740.00119 Control (Austria)/4–1345: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Catfery)
1512. Please communicate to the French Government the substance of, and report its views on, Marshal Stalin’s suggestion that American, British and French representatives proceed to Vienna to consider zones in Vienna, which was received in Harriman’s 162 April 13, midnight, repeated to you by the Department.
This Government would like to carry out this suggestion by having American military officers now engaged at AFHQ, Caserta, in planning for the occupation of Austria proceed to Vienna accompanied by Erhardt. They would examine the actual situation in Vienna and make reports on the factors bearing upon zones of occupation in Vienna for final determination of such zones by inter-governmental agreement through the European Advisory Commission.
Please report urgently whether the French government wishes to send representatives to Vienna for this purpose. If it so desires you may offer to ask General Alexander32 through Erhardt whether AFHQ could assist with travel arrangements for them.
The Department is awaiting similar information from the British government. It anticipates that the British government will wish also to send representatives from AFHQ, Caserta,
Upon receipt of information that the British and French governments concur, the War Department will issue instructions to General McNarney at Caserta authorizing him or his representative to proceed.
[Page 68]Repeated to London as Department’s no. 2959; to AmPolAd, Caserta for Erhardt as Department’s no. 333, and to Moscow as Department’s no. 889.
- Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater.↩