740.00119 Control (Austria)/4–1048: Telegram
The High Commissioner in Austria ( Keyes ) to the United States Military Governor for Germany ( Clay )1
P–1532. Reourad P–1520.2 It is believed that Soviets will soon implement their requirement of demanding identification documents in addition to the regular grey pass when crossing the demarcation line into or leaving the Soviet zone of Austria.
In the event that our military train (Mozart) is stopped the following action will be taken. Entry into train by Soviet representatives [Page 1416] will be denied. Passengers will not be permitted to be removed from the train. AGO identification cards will not be shown to Soviet authorities by personnel on military trains. Upon request, the Soviet authorities will be furnished with a list of passengers, copies of official travel orders, a manifest of supplies being transported and the regular Allied Council grey pass for each person on the train. If permission to proceed under these conditions is denied the train will be returned to an area under the United States control land vigorous protest against Soviet action will be made in the Allied Council.
Charges will include: Violation of the agreement between the four governments and covering recommendations thereto prepared by the European Advisory Commission 9 July, 1945; violation of the protocol of the meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Commanders-in-Chief, Allied Forces, Austria, 25 July, 1945; violation of agreement of the Executive Committee regarding control of travel of representatives of Allied Forces of Occupation, 25 September, 1945; and violation of unwritten understanding that the United States military train Mozart would not be interfered with and that documentation would consist only of the list of cars and the number of passengers by car and by category. The Mozart has not been interfered with since February 1947. Prior to that time it was boarded and searched, under protest, on a few occasions.
If Mozart ceases to operate, exit from Vienna is possible but difficult by civilian trains rigidly controlled land inspected by Soviet. Grey pass and identification documents are required. Travel by automobile requires grey pass and identification documents. Military air travel is strictly limited at present to contact flying due to the loss of the radio range facilities. We do not have positive control of our airport which is 15 miles inside Soviet territory. Soviets could prevent passage to and from the airport at any time if they are ready to violate the agreement made by the European Advisory Commission 9 July, 1945.
The British position at the moment is different from our own. Their train has habitually been boarded and grey passes demanded. Recently passports for civilians have been demanded and shown. British will object to furnishing individual identification documents of military personnel in uniform under any category of travel. In the case of British train, if Soviets insist on identification of the military, they will return it to an area under British control.
The French have no train and do not object to furnishing individual identification for either military or civilian personnel.
I will keep you informed as situation develops. Pol Ad concurs.
- The JCS copy of this telegram indicates that it was a personal message from General Keyes as Commanding General of U.S. Forces in Austria to General Clay as Commander in Chief of U.S. Forces in Europe. It was repeated for information to the Department of the Army with the request that it be passed to the Department of State and to the Military Attaché in London for the U.S. Delegation.↩
- Not printed.↩