701.6361/10–2645: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Austrian Affairs (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 27—10:28 a.m.]
394. Provisional Govt has notified Marshal Koniev it is willing to exchange Ministers with USSR. Koniev had requested exchange of Ambassadors but Provisional Govt answered that the expenses would be intolerable and that no person of the required stature was available. Koniev had intimated it was preferable for Renner not to send a member of Communist Party and Renner is reported to be giving favorable consideration to appointment of General Julius Deutsch.72
At a meeting of Executive Committee October 23 General Gruenther inquired of General Zheltov as to accuracy of statements in press that Soviets wished Austrian Govt to exchange Ambassadors with Soviet Govt Zheltov replied “Marshal Koniev has handed a note to the Austrian Govt. It is possible that this note will involve some changes.” Gruenther said he did not understand what was meant by “changes”. Zheltov answered “I am unable to foretell future events. I cannot say more on this topic”.
Renner is puzzled by Soviet request and would have preferred to let matter wait until after national elections, meanwhile, exchanging merely Consuls or trade representatives. He would also like to have matter discussed by Allied Council but considers it probable that press announcement of the exchange of Ministers will be made before Allied Council is officially informed.
In taking this step without prior consultation with other Allied authorities Soviets may have several objectives in addition to the obvious one of placing themselves publicly in a more advance position than the other powers in carrying out Moscow Declaration. The principal objective may be to establish a special and influential means of contact with Provisional Govt independently of Allied Council. Communist party in Austria may gain some prestige or assistance from presence in Vienna of a Soviet Minister. Soviet-Austrian exchange of Ministers will probably lead to demand for similar exchanges between Austria and Balkan countries. Soviets may gain some small advantages by having consular officers in US, British, and French zones of Austria. Renner suggest Soviets may have in mind securing deanship of Diplomatic Corps in Vienna.
[Page 640]On the whole this development should tend to increase Soviet influence in Austria at the cost of some diminution of the supreme authority of Allied Council. It is therefore inconsistent with the spirit of quadripartite collaboration. Yet no express agreement appears to have been violated.
- Under Secretary and Secretary for Army Affairs in the Austrian Government 1919–20, former commander of the Socialist Schutzbund, former General in Spanish Republican Army, and from 1942 an employee of the Office of War Information in New York.↩