Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

740.00119 Control (Austria)/6–945: Telegram

The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Truman

No. 81

[London,] 9 June 1945.

1. Our missions to Vienna have been ordered by Marshal Tolbukhin to leave by June 10th or 11th. They have not been allowed to see anything outside the strict city limits, and only one airfield can be permitted for the Allies. Here is the capital of Austria which by agreement is to be divided, like the country itself, into four zones: but no one has any powers there except the Russians and not even ordinary diplomatic rights are allowed. If we give way in this matter, we must regard Austria as in the Sovietized half of Europe.

2. On the other hand, the Russians demand the withdrawal of the American and British forces in Germany to the occupation line, fixed so long ago in circumstances so different, and Berlin of course is so far completely Sovietized.

3. Would it not be better to refuse to withdraw on the main European front until a settlement has been reached about Austria? Surely at the very least the whole agreement about zones should be carried out at the same time?

4. A telegram has been despatched to the State Department⁵³ showing the actual situation of our missions in Vienna which, as ordered, will I presume depart on June 10th or 11th after making their protests.

53. No telegram answering this description has been found in Department files