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

863.00/11–345

The Department of State to the British Embassy

Memorandum

The Department of State is in agreement with the views expressed in the telegram of the Foreign Office of October 3, 1945⁵ that the ban on the return of Austrian political refugees to their country be lifted except in the case of extreme Nazis and any others who may be objectionable for security reasons. This question has been referred to the War Department with the recommendation that action be taken as soon as possible.

Pending an approval by the War Department for the lifting of the general ban on the return of political refugees to Austria, the Department of State has recommended that individual refugees, who are not objectionable for security reasons, be repatriated as soon as their applications are received for exit permits.

The Department of State considers that it would be desirable to withhold a public announcement that the ban will be lifted until such announcement can be made simultaneously by the British and American Governments. The British Embassy will be informed when an announcement can be made by the American Government.⁶

Washington , November 19, 1945.

5. Presumably reference is to a Foreign Office telegram handed to the Department in a note by the British Embassy dated November 3, 1945, neither printed (863.00/11–345).
6. In an aide-mémoire of January 7, 1946, not printed, the Department notified the British Embassy of War Department concurrence. The public announcement of the lifting of the ban was made on January 9; see Department of State Bulletin, January 20, 1946, p. 73.