DAILY SUMMARY - 1946/04/24

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Daily Summary Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01068496
• Document Creation Date: September 11, 2018

'Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068496
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
Ted
DENTIAL1
24 APR 1946
59
GENERAL
I. US position on Italian cables--The State Department has advised
Embassy London that the US sees no reason to oppose British reten-
tion of cable terminals now in British territory, assuming British
concurrence in US policy, which favors return of Italian cables to
Italian control (see Daily Summary of 19 April; item 5).
2. British views on investigation of the anish regime--According to
Stettinius, the British Foreign Office considers "dangerous" the
Australian proposal that the Security Council appoint a committee to
examine the Spanish issue. The British, however, will not object to
the proposed action if it is supported by the US (Stettinius has been
instructed to support the Australian proposal). The British feel that
a committee investigation would (a) create tension along the Spanish-
French border and between Communists and non-Communists in south
France; (b) embarrass the French and play into Soviet hands by com-
pelling examination of Spanish charges that Communists in south
France, with French help, were preparing for armed intervention; and
(c) would permit Franco to proclaim his public acquittal when the com-
mittee finds, as the British have assumed, that Spain is no threat to the
peace.
EUROPE-AFRICA
3. POLAND: US credit in return for Polish election led e--The State
Department plans to exchange on 24 April official notes with the Polish
Government under the terms of which (a) the US will grant Poland a
limited credit of $40 million for the purchase of coal cars and loco-
motives to be used for shipping coal to Western European countries,
and (b) the Polish Government will declare that its proposed referendum
(on the question of whether the Polish Parliament shall be composed of
one or two houses) will be held "this summer" and will be followed
"this year" by elections held in accordance with the terms of the
Potsdam agreement. The Poles (a) have promised to give full publicity
in Poland to these commitments, and (b) have indicated that they will
seek further substantial US credits. The State Department has made
clear to the Poles that no further credits will be available if they do not
implement their political and economic undertakings to the US.
Document No.
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NO CHANGE in Class. 0
0 DECLASSIFIED
Class. CHANCED TD: TS s 65
DDA Memo, 4 1pr 77
Auth: DDA RL. 77 1763
Date : 4_444ARAw By;
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Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068496
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068496
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IDENTIAU
4. HUNGARY: USSR refuses three-power economic plan�Embassy
Moscow reports that the Soviets have rejected a US proposal that the
US, UK and USSR work out a joint plan for the economic reconstruc-
tion of Hungary. The Soviets (a) claim that such a plan falls within
the competence of the Hungarian Government; (b) deny categorically
the US allegation that Soviet reparations demands and the presence
of Soviet occupation troops in Hungary exercise "any serious influ-
ence on the economic situation of the country"; and (c) accuse the US
of failing to improve economic conditions in Hungary by refusing to
return Hungarian property removed by the Germans to the US zone of
Austria.
US representative Schoenfeld reports that "the economic
charges imposed on Hungary by the USSR in the form of reparations,
provisioning for occupation forces, looting, requisitioning, economic
penetration, interference with internal economic affairs, and restric-
tions on economic relations with countries outside the Soviet sphere"
are largely responsible for the rapid deterioration of the Hungarian
economy and the value of US business interests in the country.
5. AUSTRIA: Soviets assume control of additional "German" ro ert
US Political Advisor Erhardt reports that Soviet military authorities
in Lower Austria and their sector in Vienna have assumed "under
Potsdam" complete control over some ten important factories in at
least three of which bona fide German interest is "doubtful." There
are no indications that the Sovietshave demanded the removal of
machinery. The Soviets apparently desire to establish joint Austrian-
Soviet ownership corporations for these plants.
FAR EAST
6. JAPAN: Soviet views on reparations�Embassy Moscow has been
informed that the Soviet Government is not opposed in-principle to the
establishment of an Inter-Allied Reparations Commission for Japan.
The Soviets believe that reparations should include (a) all Japanese
.property subject to removal from Japan in accordance with the Potsdam
Declaration; and (b) Japanese property located on former Japanese or
Japanese-occupied territories, except that property "which enters into
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068496
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068496
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
P S T
jibierNTIAL1
the category of war trophies."
THE AMERICAS
7. NICARAGUA: Opposition to President Somoza continues�Ambassa-
dor Warren and US Military Attache, Nicaragua, report that the
political forces opposing the Somoza regime are attempting to
� organize public opinion into a movement which will force the Presi-
dent from the political scene. If peaceful efforts fail, the opposition
plans to stage a revolution.
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068496