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PREFACE
  This volume of documents (the first of two dealing with the Berlin
or Potsdam Conference of 1945) is the second to appear in a special
series of Foreign Relations volumes on the World War II conferences
attended by President Roosevelt or President Truman, along with
Prime Minister Churchill or Generalissimo Stalin, or both of the
latter. The first volume issued in this special series dealt with the
conferences at Malta and Yalta, and was published by the Department
of State in 1955.
  The principal editor of the present volume was Richardson Dougall,
Officer in Charge, Policy Studies, in the Department's Historical
Office. At various stages of the compilation and professional editing
of the volume he had the assistance of the following members of the
Department's historical staff: Robert C. Hayes (whose work par-
ticularly on the Briefing Book papers in this volume is acknowledged),
Dwight R. Ambach, Peter V. Curl, Eula McDonald, Richard S.
Patterson, Herbert Spielman, and Isaac A. Stone. Invaluable assist-
ance in the annotation of papers was given by. Myra J. DeBerry and
other reference librarians in the Library of the Department and by
the staff of the Division of Biographic Information.
  The Division of Publishing Services, Department of State, was
responsible for the proofreading and editing of copy and for the prepa-
ration of the index. Under the general direction of the Chief of this
Division, Norris E. Drew, the editorial functions mentioned above
were performed by the Foreign Relations Editing Branch in charge of
Elizabeth A. Vary, Chief, and Ouida J. Ward, Assistant Chief.
  In order to make this volume as complete and useful as possible, the
Department of State not only drew upon its own resources but also
sought the cooperation of other agencies and individuals, to whom the
Department is grateful for their assistance. Particular acknowledg-
ment is made of the help received from Vernon E. Davis, of the His-
torical Division, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and from Walter G. Hermes, of
the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army.
                                            G. BERNARD NOBLE
                                          Director, Historical Office
                                          Bureau of Public Affairs
  WASHINGTON, March 15, 1960.
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