Office of the Historian

863.01/8–1845: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, August 18, 1945—6 p.m.
[Received 7:40 p.m.]

8387. Personal for the Secretary. Yesterday evening Bevin asked me to call on him. He wanted me to tell you that he hopes very much that the US will not recognize the Renner Govt in Austria8 until he has had an opportunity to talk to you when you come here the first of Sept. He feels that the policies carried out in Austria will influence decisions in the Balkans on which, he tells me, you and he were in agreement. He is also anxious to discuss with you his ideas in regard to Trieste.9

Sir Ronald Campbell will act as Bevin’s deputy on the Council of Foreign Ministers and the British are planning to continue the Secretariat at Lancaster House where the Council of Foreign Ministers will meet. This is the same group that has served the EAC (European Advisory Commission),10 which also met at Lancaster House.11

Winant
  1. For documentation regarding the interest of the United States in the establishment of a government for Austria, see vol. iii, pp. 559 ff., passim. Karl Renner was Chancellor of an Austrian Government formed in April 1945.↩
  2. In telegram 7068, August 20, 1945, 8 p.m., to London, the Secretary of State directed Ambassador Winant as follows: “Please tell Mr. Bevin that we do not intend acting on Austria now and will be glad to talk to him about that and Trieste at the forthcoming meeting.” (863.01/8–1845)↩
  3. The European Advisory Commission ceased to exist in August 1945. For documentation regarding the dissolution of the Commission, see vol. iii, pp. 539 ff., passim. ↩
  4. Telegram 8640, August 24, 1945, from London, reported further on British plans in connection with secretarial arrangements for the forthcoming conference. The British were planning to set up a strong secretariat whose services would be available to other delegations. (740.00119 Council/8–2445)↩