DAILY SUMMARY - 1946/04/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Daily Summary Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01068492
• Document Creation Date: September 11, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068492
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff - 30 August 2018
'TOP SECRET
F1DEIV
GENERA'
l; APR k
55
1. laitts...nl:Le removal of UN head s from S--The US dele-
gation to the Security Council believes that the USSR, dissatisfied with
the housing situation, may press for removal of the UN from "any-
where in the United States.�
2. Size of delegations to Paris Peace Conference--Embassy Paris has
learned that the Soviets (a) are requesting hotel space at the Peace
Conference for a delegation of 300, of whom 100_ are _.!`communication
personnel," and (b) expect the Conference to open as soon as the Coun-
cil of Foreign Ministers adjourns. The Yugoslays haveincreased
their delegation to 150, while the Belgians plan to send 12, the Dutch
16 and the Canadians 9.
3. US asks '...0.�.1.2.to join in_thrsivezzr,sgst to Rumania�The State
Department has instructed Embassy Moscow to invite the Soviet Gov-
ernment to join the US and Britain in a tripartite approach to the
Rumanian Government regarding the latter's failure to fulfill its
pledge of political freedom (see Daily Summary of 26 March, item 3).
The British Government has already indicated its readiness to join in
such representations, regardless of USSR participation. �
4. US rejects Soviet conditions on War Crimes Coramission�The State
bepartment interprets the Soviet reply to the British invitation to take
part in the United Nations War Crimes Commission as "clear indica.-
tion',' that the USSR has no desire to participate. The Department has
authorized Embassy London to inform the British that the US is unal-
terably opposed to the Soviet proposal and feels that the USSR should
not be pressed further to join. (The Soviet reply stated that the USSR
would not accept unless similar invitations were sent to seven individ-
ual "Soviet Republics"; see Daily Summary of 6 April, item le)
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6. US views on Spanish issue--The US position on Spain, as outlined for
use by Stettinius in the Security Council, includes the desires that (a)
the overthrow of Franco be achieved without precipitating civil war
and its "almost certain" international repercussions; (b) the Security
Council discuss the Spanish issue thoroughly but avoid voting on
whether the Spanish regime is a threat to the peace; and (C)any deci-
sion on the matter by the Council be based on a "full hearing of the
case," (If the Council contemplates taking affirmative .action against
Spain, the latter should be granted a hearing.) -
Stettinius is instructed to vote against (a) any rbsolution _
stating that the regime is a threat to the peace (provided that no new
information has been developed), and (b) any resolution recommending
sanctions or changes in diplomatic relations. In order to avoid such a.
vote, however, and yet to effect a disposition of the matter acceptable
to Council members whose Governments are under pressure to take
action, the US would favor proposals that the Council take one or both
of the following steps: (a) keep the issue on its agenda, appointing a
sub -committee to receive any relevant new information; (b) resolve
that the General Assembly "consider the possibility" of recommending
measures of "peaceful adjustment."
.7. US views on reparations provisions in Rumanian draft treaty--The State
5.65�utment advised Dunn that it envisages a financial settlement per-
mitting Allied Governments to retain Rumanian assets within their
jurisdiction in amounts not exceeding claims for: (I) personal injury to
civilians; (2) war damage to property outside Rumania; (3) war damage
to shipping; .(4) war damage to property in Rumania and compensation
for Soviet "removals" of Allied property as "booty", as "German pro.:
perty" and as "reparations", if such property is not restored or COM-
pensation in local currency is not acceptable to the owners. .
The Department expresses great concern over Soviet "unilateral
measures" which increase Rumanian obligations to the USSR beyond the
reparations terms of the armistice. The best protection for Rumania
would probably be an international commission to supervise the fulfill-
ment of Rumania's obligations to the USSR and the other Allies. Careful
specification in the treaty of Rumania's obligations and the precise defi-
nition of such terms as "restitution'', "war booty", and "German
property" are desirable, and might safeguard RuniAr154 to some extent s
against the Soviet penchant for taking advantage of every loophole.
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3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
T SE T
ONJ'N
EUROPE .AFRICA
8. FRANCt: IViRP withdrawal from Gavel:anent imminent--Foreign Min-
ister BidatifriaiTair diTe-iy that he sad other MRP Party ministers
win leave the Government and go into the opposition, if the Socialists '
and Communists do not agree to MRD amendments to the draft Consti-
tution (see Daily Summary of 17 April, item 8). The Socialist-Communist
coalition on 18 April defeated two AfRP amendments. The rupture is
expected on 19 April, when the Assembly is to vote on the Constitution
as a whole.
9 FRANCE: Fu_stiam_sWall ons about the Soviet Wheat shio--Accordinz
tolJS NavalAttaohe, Paris
(a) the Soviet wheat ship VOROSHMOV arrived at "a
-French, Mediterranean port" with One hold empty and (b) investigation
disclosed that the hold Originally contained arms and ammunition said
to have been unloaded at an unknown Sicilian port
10 SPAIN: Government refuses to extradite_ag_t_"elle--Foreign Minister
Spaak hair raia"Was sador Kirk that Spain has refused to extradite or
expel Degrelle, leader of the Belgian pro-fascist Rexists. Spain alleges
that Degrelle cannot be held accountable as a war criminal, because his
acts had "stemmed from his political position."
11 ITALY: EiniLmattcljzizanc_kto abdicate before 1 May--According
to Embassy Rome, a member of the Italian royal household recently in-
formed the British Ambassador that the King intends to abdicate before
the end of this month. He requested the permission of the British Gov-
ernment for the King to go to Egypt, taking with him only the Queen and
two servants.
12. POLAND: Note to US on. referendum and elections--The State Department
has recently receive from the Polish Arabassador a note declaring that
the Polish referendum (a) is designed primarily to settle the question of
whether the Polish Parliament shall be composed of one or two houses,
(b) will be held "this summer's as soon as "the major part" of Polish
displaced citizens have returned home, and (c) will be followed by elec-
tions held in accordance with the provisions of the Potsda.zn agreement.
-3
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff - 30 August 2018
3.3(h)(2) 13.
14. CHINA: Soviet Intelligence on US Navy in Far East.-The US Naval
Attache at Vladivostok reports that Soviet intel�Werice on US Naval
strength in the Shanghai area has made a profound'impression on
Soviet Far East Navy personnel, who had been led to believe their
Pacific Fleet the most powerful in the Far East..
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068492