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

740.00119 Control (Austria)/5–2545: Telegram

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

Caserta, May 25, 1945—midnight.
[Received May 26—7:48 a.m.]

2358. Present plans approved by SAC³⁶ and McNarney for mission to Vienna³⁷ contemplate that Amer element headed probably by Flory (this has not yet been decided) shall consist of 18 officers and 60 enlisted men. Brit element approx same and is headed by Maj Gen Winterton. In Amer group will be included air, engineer, health, signal, civil, govt officers etc. Is proposed that both Amer and Brit Elements will go in by auto via Klagenfurt and Wiener Neustadt date arrival Vienna about June 3. I understand SAC informing French of these plans.³⁸

Mack told me FonOf had advised him that while it would like him go in with Brit group it would leave matter to his judgement and that of AFHQ. Last night he wired FonOf that SAC, Macmillan, Brit Chief of Staff³⁹ and he all agreed that no FonOf rep should be member of mission. This was for reason that mission is to be strictly military in character has only reconnaissance functions and inclusion civilian rep FonOf would be likely stir up Soviet suspicions.⁴⁰ Furthermore it was felt that political rep would find it embarrassing if confronted by requests for interviews by members Renler [Renner] regime or other Austrians. Mack thinks FonOf will go along with these views.

[Erhardt]

36. Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Alexander)
37. In his telegram 2291, May 22, 1945, 1 p.m., the Ambassador in Italy reported that the War Department had directed Lt. Gen. McNarney or his deputy to proceed to Vienna in accordance with Marshal Stalin’s message at a date to he agreed upon with Field Marshal Alexander and coordinated with Marshal Tolbukhin (740.00119 Control (Austria)/5–2245)
38. In his telegram 2389, May 28, 1945, 5 p.m., the Ambassador in Italy reported that General Cherriere would head the French mission of 17 persons to Vienna (740.00119 Control (Austria)/5–2845)
39. Lt. Gen. William Duthie Morgan, Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Alexander)
40. In telegram 22, May 26, from Florence, Erhardt reported that it had been definitely decided that General Flory’s mission to Vienna would be entirely military in composition (740.00119 Control (Austria)/5–2645)