740.00119 Control (Austria)/6–1745: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser on Austrian Affairs (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 18—7 a.m.]
86. Dept should see FH 94530 from Genl McNarney to Agwar containing recommendations to JCS based on mission to Vienna.70 [Page 146] This is the message referred to in the last paragraph of my telegram to Dept from Caserta on June 16.
Certain impressions gathered from the meetings and conversations in Caserta may be of interest.
Cherriere was unalterably opposed to a French zone embracing 3 and 11 from a prestige standpoint and because these districts were heavily damaged and hence inadequate. It was obvious that concessions would have to be made to them and the French are now satisfied with their zone as agreed at yesterday’s meeting. District 13, Hietzing, which will be the British zone is the best residential district in Vienna. It contains Schönbrunn Palace which the British are pleased to get. However, the British agreed to allow the French to occupy some suitable villas and other desirable housing in this district.
Cherriere readily accepts the Soviet position on the city limits as the Gau limits for the zoning of Vienna but Winterton went along reluctantly. Flory’s proposal is a compromise between them. Winterton’s proposal to his chiefs of staff to ask for district 25 is another way of getting territory outside the 1938 city limits and if this goes through in the EAC presumably the other govts will expect similar treatment. Winterton is not hopeful and the American military do not believe that the extension of our proposed zone to the Gau limits is important if we get free access to the US air field.
In requesting Tulln as an airport Genl Flory and Genl Snavely our air officer realize that the airport will be very useful for occupational purposes but will have no value in post-war air development. The Brit and French in proposing to utilize Schwechat and Gotzendorf as joint tenants may have post-war developments in mind since in private conversations it was stated that the French can hardly expect to improve Gotzendorf.
A Brit. Col. remarked: These are tiring discussions but then you should try to get adequate quarters.