740.00119 Control (Austria)/1–2446: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan)
238. Deptel 107 Jan 19 urtel 217 Jan 24.36 Proposal for reduction occupation forces in Austria introduced into Allied Council Jan 31 by Gen Clark. French and Brit members agreed to US proposal. Konev stated he could not agree to discussion in Allied Council as question could only be handled by Govts. Following Council meeting Clark discussed matter with Konev personally and reports that no [Page 303] progress can be made until instructions are received by Soviet member. Konev stated Soviet forces are now being reduced by demobilization but Allied Council can not reduce occupation forces due to fact that surrender instrument has not fully been carried out; denazification and demilitarization not complete, campaign against Nazi ideology not satisfactory, and Austrian Govt is delaying trials of war criminals.
If answer to your letter Jan 24 to Dekanosov37 is delayed or not satisfactory, I am considering sending personal letter to Molotov calling to his attention discussion held in Moscow in Dec and requesting appropriate instructions be sent to Konev to discuss question in Allied Council.
Sent to Moscow as 238; repeated to Vienna as 117.
- Telegram 107 January 19, was substantially the same as telegram 623 to London, printed on p. 298. In telegram 217, January 24, not printed, Mr. Kennan reported that he had sent a letter on that day to Dekanozov in accordance with the Department’s instructions in telegram 107.↩
- Vladimir Georgyevich Dekanozov, Soviet Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs until March 1946; thereafter Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩