800.515/10–2545: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 25—2 p.m.]
3652. Reference Embassy’s 3616, October 21. For Department’s information. British have told us of Marshal Koniev’s continued refusal at the meeting of Allied Control Commission on October 20 in Vienna to accept conversion program into AM schillings and also of Koniev’s objections to compromise suggested by General Bethouart that immediate conversion of reichsmarks into Austrian national currency should be made to extent national currency available and the balance converted into AM schillings which in turn will be converted into national currency as fresh supplies become available. Koniev reportedly objected to this on ground AM schillings would drive national schillings out of circulation.
British and French Embassies Moscow are recommending to their Governments that they be instructed to take up question with Vyshinski along following lines:
- 1.
- Send Vyshinski copy of Dr. Renner’s letter of October 869 addressed to General Clark as Chairman Allied Control Commission for Austria which explains need for immediate conversion into AM schillings and states that there will not be sufficient amount of notes of [Page 638] Austrian national currency to permit conversion in near future into that monetary unit.
- 2.
- Advance compromise plan as suggested by General Béthouart and answer Koniev’s objection by stating AM schillings and Austrian national currency will at all times be mutually convertible on a one to one basis throughout Austria.
British have not yet received reply to their October 19 representations but, in view of Vyshinski’s reply to US, they expect similar answer. British and French here believe renewed representations on old basis would be fruitless and compromise plan only one with chance of success.
Sent Department 3652, repeated Vienna 20.
- Not found in Department files.↩