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    "title": "Report, Negotiations Concerning German Reparations, Part I, Yalta Through Potsdam, Research Project Number 143",
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    "seq": 82,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "TOP SECRET\n- 72 -\nC. THE FIRST-CHARGE PRINCIPLE\nThe first-charge principle is expressed in\nparagraph 19 of the Economic Principles of the\nPotsdam Agreement:\n\"Payment of reparations should leave\nenough resources to enable the German people\nto subsist without external assistance. In\nworking out the economic balance of Germany\nthe necessary means must be provided to pay\nfor imports approved by the Control Council\nin Germany. The proceeds of exports from\ncurrent production and stocks shall be avail-\n-\nable in the first place for payment for such\nimports.\n\"The above clause will not apply to the\nequipment and products referred to in para-\ngraphs 4 (A) and 4 (B) of the Reparations\nAgreement.\nYalta\nThe British were responsible for first intro-\nducing the first-charge concept into the reparations\ndiscussions. Their position at Yalta that necessary\nimports should be a first charge, prior to repara-\ntions, was a corollary to their position that no\ntotal reparations figure should be fixed. Prime\nMinister Churchill, in stating the British Govern-\nment's opposition to the $20 billion figure, observed\nthat shipments from current production in particular\nwould exceed the value of Germany's necessary imports.\nHe stated the issue openly \"If these imports are\nnot given a priority ahead of reparations, it will\nmean that the other countries will be paying for\nGerman reparations to those countries receiving them. 11]\nThe\n1HG (Yalta), Feb. 10, 1945, 4:00 p.m., p. 8.\nTOP SECRET"
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