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

740.00119 Control (Austria)/7–245: Telegram

No. 279
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State ad interim

secret
us urgent

Moscow, July 2, 1945—1 p.m.

2367. General Deane has been informed by SHAEF that the Soviet commanders in Austria have refused to allow Amer troops to enter proposed zones of occupation on the grounds that they have no instructions. General Deane (sent to Dept as 2367, rptd to London as 337) has been attempting to ascertain from the Red Army General Staff the reasons why instructions were not issued. In Generalissimo Stalin’s reply of June 16¹ to the President’s message,² setting July 1 as the date of occupation for both German and Austrian zones, Stalin refers to the intervening period as giving the EAC time to complete its work.

As General Deane is requesting me to support with Molotov SHAEF request to obtain Soviet agreement to start movement of American occupational troops, I would appreciate urgent advice as to the status of the decisions in the EAC regarding the occupational zones for Austria.

Harriman

1. See Truman, Year of Decisions, p. 305; Stalin’s Correspondence, vol. ii, p. 247.
2. See Truman, Year of Decisions, pp. 303–304; Stalin’s Correspondence, vol. ii, p. 245. Cf. Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy, pp. 603–606. See also document No. 75, footnote 2.