740.00119 EW/11–1547: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Acting United States Delegate to the Inter-Allied Reparation Agency (Daspit) at Brussels
urgent
niact
1655. For Daspit. Dept agrees view urtel 1792, Nov 15,34 that no strenuous effort appropriate kill IARA protest resolution. However, instruction to president to “take such steps as he may deem appropriate … with a view to the increase of the total amt of reparations in conformity with the agreements reached at Yalta and Potsdam” considered highly objectionable following grounds (in addition general considerations outlined urtel 1703 Nov 1 and Deptel 1583, Nov 4): (a) implies IARA right to interpret Yalta and Potsdam; (b) implies Yalta co-equal with Potsdam in defining total amt reparation, [Page 1133] whereas US position is that Potsdam solely governs, and Paris Agreement mentions only Potsdam; (c) grants excessive discretion to president.
You shld draw attention these views but take no action secure formal amendment as this wld tend associate US with resolution. Dept wld have no objection as to substance to resolution which simply expressed IARA disappointment, instructed Rueff inform CFM. You shld however abstain from voting on such resolution.
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Not printed; it reported the text of a draft resolution protesting against the inadequacy of the list of plants declared to be subject to reparation from Germany (740.00119 EW/11–847). The list of plants was that referred to in the letter of October 14, 1947, from McJunkins and Whitham to the IARA, p. 1126.
On November 19, 1947, the Assembly of the Inter-Allied Reparation Agency adopted a resolution expressing its disappointment over the low amount of reparation so far declared available for distribution to Agency members; for the text of the resolution, see Inter-Allied Reparation Agency: Report of the Secretary General for the Year 1947, pp. 14–15.
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