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

740.00119 Control (Germany)/7–2945

No. 788
The Assistant Secretary of State (Dunn) to the Secretary of State¹

[Undated.]

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

Subject: Proposed Joint Statements on Austria.

Attached are three telegrams from London containing texts of three proposed joint statements on Austria for publication in Washington, London, Moscow and Paris, upon approval.

The first statement summarizes the agreement on zones of occupation in Austria, and the second statement summarizes the agreement on control machinery in Austria. The third statement follows the precedent set in the case of the declaration on Germany and announces the intention of the four Governments to consult with Governments of the United Nations in connection with the exercise of Four Power authority in Austria.

These proposed statements are, of course, based upon agreements that have been approved by the United States Government. If you and the President are in agreement I should like to instruct our Embassy in London that the United States Government agrees to the issuance of these statements and to ask Ambassador Winant to have the European Advisory Commission determine the date of simultaneous release of the statements in the four capitals.

J[ames] C[lement] D[unn]

Approved: James F. Byrnes , July 29, 1945.
Secretary of State

[Attachment 1]

[Editor’s Note.—The text contained in this attachment was made public on August 8, 1945. See Department of State Bulletin, volume xiii, pages 221–222.]

[Attachment 2]

[Editor’s Note.—The text contained in this attachment was made public on August 8, 1945, with the following modification: The text as published omitted from the primary tasks of the Allied Commission for Austria the first of those tasks as stated in the attachment, viz.: “To ensure the enforcement in Austria of the provisions of the declaration regarding the defeat of Germany signed at Berlin on 5 June, 1945”. See Department of State Bulletin, volume XIII, page 221.]

[Attachment 3]²

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Political Adviser to the Representative on the European Advisory Commission (Mosely)

secret
priority

London, 28 July [19]45.

For Mosely secret from Winant, signed Tindall.

Ref mytel for Mosely July 27 sent Dept as 7588 Comea 344,³ following is text proposed joint statement re consultation other Allied Govts for publication four capitals upon four govts approval:

Title: Statement by Govts of US, UK and USSR and Provisional Govt French Republic on consultation with other United Nations Govts.

Begin Text: In a statement issued on June 5, 1945⁴ the Govts of US, UK and USSR and Provisional Govt French Republic announced their intention to consult the Govts of other United Nations in connection with the exercise of supreme authority in respect to Germany assumed by declaration re defeat of Germany signed at Berlin June 5, 1945.⁵ The Govts of the four powers hereby announce that it is also their intention to consult the Govts of the United Nations in connection with the exercise of this authority in Austria. End Text.⁶

1. This paper bears the following manuscript notation by Mosely: “Informed J. G. Ward (UK) and Gousev (U. S. S. R.) July 30, of U. S. approval and timing arrangement. Telegram to Mr. Winant, July 30. P. E. M[osely].” See document No. 789.
2. Not attached; printed from the file copy (file No. 740.00119 Control (Germany)/7–2845). Sent by the United States Military Attaché, London, via Army channels.
3. Document No. 786.
4. See Department of State Bulletin, vol. xii, p. 1053.
5. Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 1520; 60 Stat. (2) 1649.
6. Although this draft statement was approved by Byrnes (see document No. 789), it appears that it was never issued.