740.00119 Control (Austria)/8–2845: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Winant ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 28—1 p.m.]
8759. ReDepts 7254, August 24. We saw Harvey57 this morning and stressed Department’s views on immediate setting up of Allied Control Commission in Vienna. He stated British Government had been reconsidering its attitude and had now come to be in substantial agreement with US position. Harvey said instructions would be sent to Vienna probably today and he expressed hope that first formal meeting of Allied Commission can be held next week.
General McCreery is in London at present but expects to return to Vienna on August 31.
British are willing to forego discussing long term problems prior to setting up Allied Commission but say they must insist on two minor conditions first being met. These are: (1) assurance of equal treatment re office accommodation in Innere Stadt; (2) vacating by Soviets of certain former Nazi buildings located in British zone and now occupied by Russians.
In agreeing to US position Harvey said British must stress again their deep opposition to recognition of Renner government as now constituted. He expressed appreciation of Department’s position that US would take no step toward such recognition prior to Foreign Ministers Conference. According to Harvey, Mr. Bevin is taking deep personal interest in Austrian situation and while he has no objection [Page 580] to Renner personally and would probably be agreeable to seeing him continue in office he does have definite objection to Ministers of Interior and Justice who he says are Communists and represent no one. Mr. Bevin also feels according to Harvey that there should be more of a federal type of government in Austria and that representatives of the provinces and of the countryside should be given more power.
FonOff will cable its full views on this subject to British Embassy, Washington for transmission to Dept.58