Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

740.00119 Control (Austria)/7–945

No. 271
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State

Washington, July 9, 1945.

Dear Mr. Secretary: I think you will wish to have before you, and perhaps to submit to the President, the enclosed telegram [airgram] of June 20 from Ambassador Murphy (received here July 6) on “Conditions in Vienna as Revealed by Interrogation”.

Faithfully yours,

Joseph C. Grew

[Enclosure—Extracts]

The Political Adviser in Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

secret

SHAEF, June 20, 1945.

Subject: Conditions in Vienna as revealed by Interrogation.

A–46. During the course of his recent trip into Bavaria, Capt. Homer G. Richey of my staff interrogated … a member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, who had entered the American Zone from Vienna at the beginning of June. The interrogation … elicited some interesting statements about conditions in Vienna and particularly about the alleged violent reaction of the population against the Soviet troops. The text of Capt. Richey’s report on this interrogation reads as follows:

. . . . . . .

“The Russians in Vienna are agitating with every propaganda agency at their disposal. It is intended to hold an election, probably not until Fall, however, and the Russians are working towards this election day and night. … [”]

. . . . . . .

Murphy