860F.4016/5–2047
The United States Political Adviser for Germany ( Murphy ) to the Secretary of State
No. 9972
The Political Adviser for Germany has the honor to transmit information on the various conferences and agreements between representatives [Page 210] of Czechoslovakia and OMGUS relating to the transfer of populations (Sudetens) from Czechoslovakia to the United States Zone of Germany in accordance with Section XIII of the Potsdam Agreement1 and with the Control Council Plan of 20 November 1945 (my despatch no. 1368 of November 23, 19452). Only one formal agreement was signed, the remaining conditions being in the form of signed minutes of three conferences in 1946—January 8–9, April 9–10, and June 18–19.3 For the purposes of this despatch, these minutes have been edited to consolidate in each instance pertinent material under one heading.
It will be noted in the Agreement of November 12, 1946 (Enclosure No. 44) that provision is made for the resumption of expellee movements during April, 1947. On March 27, 1947, Czechoslovakian representatives visited General Keating, Deputy Military Governor, to convey the desire of the Czech Government to resume the transfer of expellees beginning May 1, 1947. General Keating intimated that resumption at the desired time would be unpropitious but that the final decision rested with General Clay,5 who was at that time in Moscow. General Keating agreed to consult General Clay by telegram and did so on March 28. General Clay replied on March 31 that Czechoslovakia be advised OMGUS understood transfers were completed and that no resumption of transfers could be undertaken at the moment in any case. This information was transmitted to the Czechoslovak Military Mission by General Keating by a letter dated April 7, 1947,6 and resulted in General Dastich’s7 letter of April 23, 1947 (Enclosure no. 56) and General Keating’s reply thereto of May 1, 1947 (Enclosure no. 68). These communications bring up to date the matter of the transfer of Sudetens from Czechoslovakia to the United States Zone of Germany.
[Page 211]- See Foreign Relations, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, vol. ii, p. 1511.↩
- For the despatch under reference here, see Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. ii, p. 1310. For additional previous documentation on the interest of the United States in the transfer of German populations from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, and Austria, see ibid., pp. 1227 ff.↩
- The records of the meetings under reference have not been printed.↩
- For the text of the agreement included as enclosure 4 to this despatch, see Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. v, p. 188.↩
- Lt. Gen. Lucius DuB. Clay, United States Military Governor for Germany.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Brig. Gen. František Dastich, Chief of the Czechoslovak Military Mission to the Allied Control Authority for Germany.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Infra.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩