740.00119 Control (Austria)/2–945: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State 58

489. From Gray for Riddleberger59 and Dunn. We discussed with Mosely the matter of a formal communication to the Soviets (and later to the French) telling them of the United States Austrian planning group under General Flory and expressing the desire to establish contact with the corresponding Soviet group at the earliest moment.

In view of recent military developments and the fact that the Soviet control group for Germany has been invited to London, it [Page 20] might be well to suggest, after concerting with the British authorities, that the United States group would be prepared to join with the Soviet group at a place designated by the latter.

I recommend that the Department take this up with the British and reach some agreement as to the time and method of sending such a communication.

This telegram has been cleared with Generals McNarney and Flory and Mosely.

Repeated to London for the Ambassador and Mosely as number 65. [Gray.]

Kirk
  1. Ambassador Kirk was also United States Representative on the Advisory Council for Italy and was the United States Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Alexander) whose headquarters were at Caserta, Italy.
  2. James W. Riddleberger, Chief of the Division of Central European Affairs.