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

740.00119 Control (Austria)/11–345: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Austrian Affairs (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State

Vienna, November 3, 1945—4 p.m.
[Received November 3—1:20 p.m.]

421. Dr. Renner has sent following information to me informally. He has been confidentially advised that one of the occupying powers is of opinion that as soon as a new govt has been formed, following the elections, the Allied Commission should be “withdrawn” (abberufen). Each of the four occupying powers would then deal directly with Austrian Govt through diplomatic channels or their respective Commanders individually. At the same time each Allied Commander would exercise authority independently in his own zone of occupation, issuing instructions to provincial govts. Dr. Renner is seriously disturbed by this advice, and is most anxious that Allied Commission should stay in existence and should coordinate Allied forces in the four zones.

The occupying power in question is USSR. Dr. Gruber⁸⁵ has told me that he received the same advice from Kiselev.

It seems plain that if abrupt and disturbing unilateral action is to be avoided, a new four-power agreement pursuant to article 14⁸⁶ of Agreement on Control Machinery in Austria should be reached not later than November 25.⁸⁷

Erhardt

85. Dr. Karl Gruber, Austrian Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
86. See Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. i, p. 354.
87. Date of forthcoming elections.