740.00119 Control (Austria)/4–2248: Telegram
The High Commissioner in Austria ( Keyes ) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
priority
P–1621. From USFA signed Keyes for action to JCS pass to State from Keyes info to CINCEUR, USDel London. Reference recent Soviet restrictions on travel in Austria, the following is submitted.
A. Following letter received by United States Deputy Commissioner from Soviet Deputy Commissioner:
“In order to supplement our conversation which took place on 7 April, 1948, I can inform you of the below enumerated rules regulating the traffic of the military and civilian nationals of the powers of occupation, on the routes Vienna-Enns, Vienna-Semmering and Vienna-Tulln airfield.
- “1. All civilians, nationals of the powers of occupation, proceeding across the line of demarcation at Enns and Semmering and also on the route Vienna-Tulln airfield, must present the ‘grey’ allied pass and an identification document proving that the allied grey pass was issued to the very person presenting it.
- “2. All military personnel proceeding through Enns and Semmering and also to the Tulln airfield, whether individually or as a group formation, will be allowed to proceed as before, upon presentation by them of the ‘grey’ allied pass.
- “3. The procedure applicable to the movement of the United States military trains, remains unchanged.”
This letter has the effect of: (1) Removing requirement of additional identification other than grey pass for military on Linz-Vienna road; (2) leaves status of Mozart “as is”; (3) requires grey pass for military personnel traveling to and from Tulln airfield. Net effect is that only additional requirement imposed on United States is the use by all personnel of grey pass for travel to and from airfield.
United States position: (1) Our stand is that “free and unimpeded access” to the airdromes as given us by paragraph 5 of the EAC is legally sound and defensible; that this agreement was made at top governmental level, and is not subject to change or restriction by Allied Commission or any other agency below that level. (2) We feel that the legal justification will be insufficient to continue operation of Tulln airdrome if and when Soviets decide to demand grey passes and bar passage to airdrome without such passes. The implications here are loss of Pan American terminus Vienna and loss air support United States garrison Vienna.
Following courses of action are open to us if road block again put in operation: (a) Adhere, in and out of Allied Council, to our stand that EAC agreement grants free and unimpeded access for the armed forces and officials of United States element and refuse to permit showing [Page 1420] of grey pass. In such event we will, if Soviets persist on enforcing their regulations, most probably lose the use of Tulln airdrome. This will cut Vienna off by air except for L–5 liaison aircraft. (b) Continue protest in Allied Council but authorize use of identification paper other than grey pass to military personnel and United States civilian employees traveling to and from Tulln; require other civilians to show passports, (c) During the period of protest in the Allied Council, in conjunction with the British, to keep Tulln airdrome operational by furnishing grey pass to the minimum essential military personnel.
Our stand will be that the EAC agreement gave us free and unimpeded access to the Tulln airport for our armed forces and officials of the United States element. We will interpret this to mean that for members of the armed forces the uniform will be sufficient identification. For military or civilian employees of the United States element, if moving in a government vehicle, the markings on the vehicle itself or possibly a trip ticket would be sufficient identification. For other personnel a passport or other means of identification may be demanded by Soviet.
I am continuing correspondence with the Soviet High Commissioner on this matter.
For your information, the following (are the positions, as we understand them, of the other elements: Soviet position: Soviet demands for passes on the roads to the airdromes are based on the principle of the inherent right of each zone commander to act unilaterally in matters involving security. Whether Soviet yield or not is dependent on overall policy or instructions from above. British position: I have talked with British High Commissioner land their position is essentially the same as ours. British are adamant that their military personnel will not show any means of identification traveling to and from Schwechat airfield. Officials in civilian clothes will show British identification papers on demand. They propose to send their civil servants in special car or bus and also refuse to allow personnel in charge of transportation to carry grey pass though they will allow individual civil servants to show any other means of identification they may have in their possession. Foreigners and other British nationals will show only passports. British base their decision on grounds that paragraph 5 of EAC agreement gives their armed forces and officials “free and unimpeded access” to Schwechat airfield; that this agreement made at top governmental level is not subject to change, ratification or restriction by Allied Commission or other agency below that level. French position: Maintains that paragraph 5 of the EAC grants free and unimpeded access to their airdromes. PolAd concurs.