Telegram from President Harry S. Truman to Marshal Joseph Stalin

NLT-300 TOP SEGRET S. DECLASSIFIED by authority :f us AND TOP SECRET V.LII P.120 16 MAY 1945 PRIORITY Datef.7.73 6491 FROM: OPNAV TO : ALUSNA, MOSCOW 161511Z NCR NUMBER 264, PERSONAL AND TOP SECRET, FROM THE PRESIDENT FOR MARSHAL STALIN: I am unable to understand why the Soviet authorities are now refusing to permit American and Allied representatives to proceed to Vienna, contrary to the good suggestion you made to Ambassador Harriman on April 13 that representatives go there to study the Vienna zones of occupation, in order that the agreements on the occupation of Austria now pending in the European Advisory Commission may be completed. Intelligent arrangement of the Vienna zones would be greatly facil- itated by an examination and discussion on the spot by the military authorities who will later be responsible for smooth operation of the inter-Allied admin- istration of Austria. For example, the Soviet representative in the European Advisory Commission has recently proposed that the air communication needs of the American forces be met by placing under American administration the airport at Tulln, 20 kilometers northwest of Vienna, in lieu of an airport in Vienna itself. However, neither he nor we know the precise dimensions or PARTZ conditions of this airport, and to give his proposal proper consideration we should be permitted to survey it. Since the area to be zoned is no longer in enemy occupation it seems only reasonable to examine it, as you suggested, in order to facilitate completion of the agreements in the European Advisory Commission. Continued TOP 1 -