-2- Departments and from the three branches of their armed services - Army, Navy and Air. The responsibility for appointment of the Advisers rested on the respective services. The conclusions and recommendations reached by the Commission have been by unanimous agreement and with the concurrence of the Advisers. When I returned to London to take up my duties on the Commission, I understood from you that there was agreement at Teheran on the basic principle of unconditional surrender, and that you supported the principle of tripartite responsibility following unconditional surrender. You also told me that you wished United States troops to occupy the northwestern zone in Germany following unconditional surrender. These directions which you gave me as guidance I followed without com-promise. Holding to your instruction to insist on the northwestern zone was responsible for delay in reaching agreement on zones of occupation. By last November 14 three basic agreements had been reached in the European Advisory Commission: the Unconditional Surrender Instrument, the Control Machinery for Germany, and the Protocol on zones of Occupation. The Control Machinery Agreement and the Protocol on Oones also provide for the assignment of areas for occupation in Greater Berlin and for tripartite control of the administration of Berlin. Each and all of these Agreements contains a larger share of the United States' position thau of those advanced by the British or the Russians. All three Governments have agreed on the Unconditional Surrender Instrument. The United States Government and the United Kingdom have agreed on the Control Machinery. U.S. approval of the Protocol on Oones in Germany and Areas in Berlin has been waiting until the British conceded the control of Bremen and Bremerhaven and of rail, road and canal facilities for our use in supplying our troops in the southern zone. I understand that the British and U.S. Chiefs of St %aff have now reached agreement on these facilities. It is my hope that you and the Prime Minister, or the two Secretaries of State, will get Russian governmental confirmation of the two Agreements on Oones and on Control Machinery. |