740.00119EAC/4–1245
Memorandum by the United States Representative on the European Advisory Commission (Winant)19
General Directive on the Treatment of Germany in the Initial Post-Defeat Period
In view of the present course of the war in Europe my Government believes that it would be of great utility for the four Governments participating in the European Advisory Commission to negotiate, as a matter of the highest priority, a statement of policy toward Germany in the form of a protocol of agreement between those Governments, for the guidance of their respective Commanders-in-Chief in controlling Germany in the initial post-defeat period. Accordingly, I am circulating a draft General Directive20 which, I hope, will receive the most urgent consideration of the Commission.
The European Advisory Commission has before it draft General Orders and draft Directives, some presented by the United Kingdom Representative, others by the United States Representative. The draft Directives are designed to establish the framework for exercising many of the specific responsibilities of the Control Council and the Commanders-in-Chief in controlling Germany. I trust that the Commission will also be able to proceed expeditiously to consider these draft Directives and, on the basis of them, to submit agreed Directives to the four Governments for their approval and for transmission to the Allied Commanders-in-Chief who will be charged with carrying out Allied policy in Germany.
- Transmitted to the Department in despatch 22349, April 12, from London, received April 16. Originally circulated in the European Advisory Commission by the United States Representative on April 4.↩
- The draft General Directive circulated by Ambassador Winant was the memorandum of March 23, approved by President Roosevelt, p. 471. The first paragraph of the March 23 memorandum was omitted as it was deemed inappropriate for inclusion in a European Advisory Commission document.↩