740.00119 Control (Germany)/5–445

Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation Between the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant), in London, and the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews), in Washington, May 4, 194526

[Extract]

. . . . . . .

Winant: I want to ask you, we have delayed discussing the question of areas in Vienna until after the military mission has gone on.

Matthews: To Vienna, yes.

Winant: Although two or three times Gousev has raised the question, I still think it wise to delay at present until the military mission has had a chance to look over the ground.

Matthews: Unfortunately, we seem to have struck a snag in that. The Russians have now taken the position that the military mission should not go to Vienna until the question is settled and so we have reached a sort of an impasse. We have taken it up urgently with Moscow but have not yet gotten their answer.

Winant: Well, I understand through Eden in the Foreign Office that Molotov has recommended to Stalin that they be permitted to go.

Matthews: That is correct.

Winant: And so I thought we should wait until we get their reply before we pursue that settlement of the Vienna area and the question of the Air Force here in London.

Matthews: I think that’s wise unless the delay is too long. If the delay is too long then I think we’d better go ahead and continue discussions in the EAC. Don’t you agree?

Winant: Yes I agree to that.

Matthews: Yes.

Winant: But I think it is worth waiting four or five days to get it.

. . . . . . .

  1. For other extracts from this trans-Atlantic conversation dealing with German problems, see p. 206