763.0221/9–2250
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union to the Embassy of the United States 1
The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has studied note of the Government of the United States of America,2 in which was communicated a decision of the governments of the United States of America, England and France to appoint civilian high commissioners in Austria.
The Soviet Government in taking this decision into consideration considers it necessary to state the following.
Article 9 of the agreement of four powers on the control mechanism in Austria of 28 June, 1946 provides that “the members of the Allied Council, executive Committee and other personnel, designated by each of the four powers as members of the Control Commission, may be civilian or military”. Thus, each of the powers is free on its own initiative to take a decision on the designation as High Commissioner of military or civilian persons.
The designation by the Governments of the three powers of civilian high commissioners in place of military high commissioners imparts nothing new to the tasks, functions and structure of the existing four membered control mechanism in Austria, in view of which the statement of the Governments of the three powers to the effect that the designation by them of civilian high commissioners has been decided upon “for the easing of occupation burdens” does not correspond with reality.
The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also is sending analogous notes to the Governments of England and France.