Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The British Commonwealth, Western and Central Europe, Volume V

800.4016 DP/12–2646: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Austria (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State

top secret

Vienna, December 26, 1946—10 a.m.
[Received 10:18 a.m.]

1545. Ref Dept’s 1074, and 1075 December 19.²⁹ Negotiations between General Clark and Soviet Commander in Austria³⁰ on question of Soviet repatriation mission successfully concluded December 21. Mission is to enter US zone of Austria and to carry on its task there in accordance with instruction mutually agreed by General Clark and Soviet Commander.

Mission is being given full opportunity to persuade Soviet Nationals to accept repatriation and will receive cooperation of appropriate US representatives. It will have privilege of interviewing Soviet Nationals both in DP camps and in communities distributing Soviet literature in the camps, broadcasting by radio news, and info concerning activities of mission establishing a collection point for individuals desiring to be repatriated and transmitting mail from Soviet DP’s to relatives in Russia.

Long delay in solution of this question not viewed here as being attributable to US element. General Clark has repeatedly expressed his readiness to permit entry into US zone of a Soviet repatriation mission provided Soviet Commander would accept certain conditions concerning the conduct and procedure by which the mission would be guided during its visits in US zone. Until very recently the Soviets have not been disposed to agree to such conditions.

At the same time General Clark has insisted that there must not be a repetition of the difficulties which were experienced with the Soviet mission that operated in US zone from January to April and that was expelled from zone by General Clark because its members persisted in carrying on unauthorized intelligence activities and otherwise engaging practices which had no relation to the work they were supposed to be accomplishing. In one instance a group was apprehended in American uniforms impersonating American Military Police. (See USFA’s P–1666 and P–1667, January 25, 1946.³¹)

Repeated Moscow as 66.

Erhardt

29. Neither printed; these telegrams repeated to Vienna the texts of telegrams 4387 and 4388, December 13, from Moscow, pp. 194 and 195, respectively, and requested that the subject be discussed with General Clark (800.4016 DP/12–1346).
30. Col. Gen. L. V. Kurasov.
31. Neither printed here. Telegram P–1666 reported on the incident wherein four members of the Soviet Repatriation Mission, posing as American soldiers, were caught in the act of forcibly attempting to kidnap an Austrian civilian living in Salzburg. As a result the Soviet authorities were asked by General Clark to withdraw the remainder of the Mission of which the four were a part. Telegram P–1667 indicated that this information should be passed on to the State Department. (Department of the Army files).