863.00/9–2445: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser for Austrian Affairs (Erhardt) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received September 25—1: 05 p.m.]
246. Laender Conference opens today13 and reports circulating it may last 8 days instead of 3. Such a conference held in 1919 established first Austrian Government. Present conference thus has historical precedent and its decision will greatly influence public opinion. From its deliberations will emerge a proposed Cabinet slate and Governments of occupying powers will have to decide whether to accept it. As background for appraisal of expected developments all members Allied Council agree upon necessity for some kind of central administrative machinery. This is especially true of Soviets who have no operational MG.14 Until now Soviets have urged in Council meetings [Page 605] only the extension to all of Austria of the competence and authority of the present Renner government.
At September 20 meeting of Allied Council Koniev said he was not proposing recognition but only extension of competence with a proviso that within one month after agreement on such extension the composition of the Government would be changed. Bethouart pointed out that Koniev’s proposal involved de facto recognition and McCreery said he would not agree to extension of competence because all commanders hoped for agreement on a government that could be recognized.
In this connection the British position is clear. They do not like the composition of present Renner government which they regard as over-weighted with Viennese. They also feel Communists have greater representation than they are entitled to and in that they control especially the Ministry of Interior. Conference to announce a Government de novo but in that respect their hopes are dim since Soviets would oppose the dissolution of the present Government as a matter of prestige. British as well as French and ourselves feel that the Interior should go to a non-Communist and Renner himself favors this change. From conversations with the other political advisers I have the impression the Soviets will be willing to have Cabinet posts increased to give the provinces adequate representation with the present incumbents retaining their posts especially Honner.
If Laender Conference gives Interior to a non-Communist the Four Powers may consider this an acceptable solution of principal difficulty, provided always the remainder of new slate is unobjectionable. If Honner remains, three suggestions have been discussed as to how the situation could be met:
Socialists are considering as a compromise appointment of a non-Communist below ministerial level in charge of police functions. Renner himself is thinking of reforms within the Interior Ministry to bring about changes in control and powers of police;
Agreement on national elections under Allied supervision before end of year would make Honner question less pressing especially in view of urgency of establishing a central government. However the British do not favor new elections before next year since they wish the Supreme Commanders to be in absolute control during this winter. Soviet position on elections is not known but last week the Austrian Communist Party has for the first time voiced willingness to have elections at an early but unspecified date. Socialists and Volkspartei have previously expressed themselves in favor of early elections. Most competent observers think that even if Honner remains the Austrian secret ballot offers adequate guarantees for a full and free expression of people’s will. In any event such apprehension [Page 606] as may exist applies only to provinces of lower Austria and Burgenland;
Making the police directly responsible to the Allied Commission. Administratively this would be very complicated and difficult and it is believed that the Commission would do well to avoid assuming such an administrative burden.
Outcome of Laender Conference can hardly be entirely agreeable to either British or Soviets. If there is a deadlock General Clark will likely again serve as mediator a role which he already has on two occasions played with great success.
To Department as 246, repeated Embassy London for Delsec as 42.
- Each of the Lander, or provinces, sent a delegation to meet with members of the Renner Cabinet in Vienna for the purpose of settling matters of common interest. The provincial delegations were each made up of the chairmen of the provincial organization of each of the three major parties, the governor of the province, and a member of the provincial council from each party. The first Lander Conference was held 24–26 September. A total of three such conferences were held during 1945.↩
- Military Government.↩