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

740.00119 Control (Austria)/2–945: Telegram

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

Washington, March 15, 1945—9 p.m.

221. For Gray. We too consider it very desirable to have contact established with the Soviet Planning Group for Austria, and have discussed your 489, February 9, 7 p.m., with the British here.

They raised the point that the British and American groups working under SACMED might not be easily separable from AFHQ⁷⁶ at Caserta in view of their close integration there.

Mosely, who is now here, thinks the Russians might be presented with a similar difficulty and that if we were to approach them about congregation of the groups for Austria we should offer to locate them at a place agreeable to the Russians since they are sending their nucleus group for Germany to London to accommodate us.

Could you give us a concrete suggestion of what British and American personnel could be separated from AFHQ, Caserta, to work effectively with the Soviet Group wherever it may be located. Had you in mind an actual working group or merely liaison officers?

Stettinius

76. Allied Force Headquarters.