Office of the Historian

740.019 EAC/1–3145: Telegram

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

London, January 31, 1945—3 p.m.
[Received January 31—1:15 p.m.]

1064. Cornea 168. With reference to my 1050, January 30, 8 p.m., I have received a United Kingdom draft agreement on zones of occupation in Austria. The proposal assigns lower Austria except greater Vienna to USSR forces; Styria USSR forces; upper Austria and Salzburg to United States forces; Styria and Carinthia to United Kingdom forces; Tyrol-Vorarlberg to French forces. It does not specify the division of areas within greater Vienna. Boundaries to be those obtaining after decree of October 1, 1938 on boundary changes in Austria.48 An inter-Allied governing authority of four commandants to direct jointly administration of greater Vienna. Proposed agreement to come into force “as soon as the military situation permits and not later than the signature” of the German unconditional surrender or cessation of organized German resistance. End of summary.49

Please furnish paraphrase to Generals Hilldring and Strong.

Winant
  1. Reichsgesetzblatt, 1938, Part I, p. 1333.↩
  2. The proposal summarized here was formally circulated in the European Advisory Commission by the United Kingdom Representative on January 30 and was designated as document E.A.C.(45) 8, January 31; it was transmitted by the Ambassador in the United Kingdom in his despatch 20764, February 2; neither printed.↩