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

740.00119 Control (Austria)/4–1745

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Aide-Mémoire

Mr. Eden³⁶ was about to communicate to Mr. Stettinius the draft of a joint message from the President and the Prime Minister to Marshal Stalin on the subject of Allied control in Austria, when the news was received that Marshal Stalin had raised this question with Mr. Harriman on the 12th [13th?].³⁷ It is understood that Stalin said that now that Vienna had been captured it was urgently necessary to settle the respective zones in Vienna. He claimed there had been much delay in the European Advisory Commission. He thought, however, that the Americans, British and French should send their officers at once to Vienna to work out the necessary arrangements on the spot.

It appears that the Russian invitation is limited to the settlement of the respective zones in Vienna and does not necessarily extend to such further questions as the constitution of the interim control machinery for the whole country, removal of industrial plant and equipment and maintenance of agriculture.

His Majesty’s Government accordingly consider that a joint message from the President and the Prime Minister bringing out these further points would be desirable. They think that this method would be more effective than that of dealing through the Chargés d’Affaires in Moscow³⁸ or through the European Advisory Commission in London, although it is true that Marshal Stalin’s accusation of slowness on the part of the European Advisory Commission in dealing with this question is unjust, since the delays have been due to the Soviet Government.

The text of a proposed message to Marshal Stalin is attached. In the version sent by the President the first sentence would need slight variation.

Washington , April 17, 1945.

[Annex]

Draft Message From the Prime Minister to Marshal Stalin

I was gratified to learn from the United States Government of your statement to Mr. Harriman that, now that Vienna had been captured, it was urgently necessary to settle the respective zones in Vienna, and your proposal that the United States, British and French Governments should send their officers at once to Vienna to work out the necessary arrangements on the spot.

His Majesty’s Government gladly accept this proposal and welcome the statement issued by the Soviet Government on April 8th³⁹ affirming that the Soviet Government stand firm by the Allied declaration issued at Moscow in 1943.

Besides the working out of the respective zones in Vienna it is urgent that the four powers should arrive at an agreed policy in regard to the establishment of interim control machinery for the whole country, and that the representatives on the European Advisory Commission should be instructed to settle this without delay.

There are other important political and economic questions which will arise in Austria. And I am sure that you will agree that our common purpose might well be prejudiced by unilateral action on the part of any one of the occupying powers in regard to the removal of industrial plant and equipment, regardless of whether or not this was German owned or the elimination without regard to their attitude towards the Nazis of [or] Austrians who might prove useful in reestablishing Austrian administration and economy. I propose therefore that the representatives to be sent to Vienna may be empowered to deal with such questions and that your commanders on the spot should meanwhile be instructed to hold their hand. I would also urge the importance of taking all possible steps to maintain Austrian agriculture in full production.

36. Then in Washington on a visit.
37. See telegram 1162, April 13, midnight, from Moscow, p. 61.
38. George F. Kennan, who became Chargé following the departure for Washington of Ambassador Harriman, and Frank Roberts, Chargé” for the United Kingdom.
39. Rot-Weiss-Rot-Buch: Gerechtigkeit für Österreich: Darstellungen, Dokumente und Nachweise zur Vorgeschichte und Geschichte der Okkupation Österreichs, Erster Teil (Wien, 1946), p. 191.