Editorial Note
On October 21 the Foreign Ministers of the Soviet Union, the “German Democratic Republic”, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, and the Albanian Minister to the Soviet Union issued at Prague a statement in reply to the communiqué issued [Page 666] at New York on September 19 by the Foreign Ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. After denouncing Western policies and actions with regard to Germany, the signatories of the Prague communiqué called for:
“First The publication by the Governments of the USA, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union of a statement that they will not permit the remilitarisation of Germany, nor permit it to be drawn into any kind of aggressive plans, and that they will unswervingly carry out the Potsdam Agreement on ensuring the conditions for the formation of a united, peace-loving, democratic German State.
“Second. The removal of all restrictions in the path of the development of German peace economy and the prevention of the restoration of German war potential.
“Third. The conclusion without delay of a peace treaty with Germany with the restoration of the unity of the German State in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement, and with the provision that the occupation troops of all Powers be withdrawn from Germany within one year after the conclusion of the peace treaty.
“Fourth. The creation of an All-German Constituent Council, on a parity basis, consisting of representatives of Eastern and Western Germany, which is to prepare the formation of a provisional democratic peace-loving all-German sovereign Government and to submit corresponding proposals for joint approval by the Governments of the USSR, the USA, Great Britain and France and which, until the formation of an all-German Government, is to be drawn into consultation on the working out of the peace treaty. Under certain circumstances a direct questioning of the German people regarding this proposal may be carried out.
“On their part, the Governments of the USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Rumania, Hungary and the German Democratic Republic will do everything possible in order to facilitate the solution of these urgent tasks in the interests of strengthening peace and international security.”
For the full text of the Prague communiqué, see Beate Ruhm von Oppen, ed., Documents on Germany Under Occupation, 1945–1954, pages 522–527.