Evening star., 1946-08-02
fSirth OF a Series J
By Herbert r. Corn
Monoaina Editor of III. stnr

4 py He1De
i Managing Edi
4 VIENNA.-Thirty miles west OF
Vienna at a bend in the Danube
lies Tulln, an airport assigned by
the Russians to Gen. Mark w. Clark,
American military governor in Aus
tria. From Tulln Gen. Clark and
all who arrive by air to visit the
American sector of Vienna must
drive through guarded lane in
the Russian zone to reach the
capital.
Tulln is important in the news of
! the Paris Peace Conference, where
navigation on the Danube will be
one OF the topics of discussion. For
at Tulln lies the wreckage of a
bridge across the Danube which
blocks restoration of this old trade
route from Vienna to the Black Sea.
AS the war drew to a close the
considerable feet of Danube river
boats retreated ahead of the ad-
vancing Russians and finally wound
up in the American zone. Gen.
Clark has repeatedly suggested to
the Russian military government
! of Austria that the removal of the
fallen bridge would enable large
river craft to proceed to upper
Austria and restore some of the
trade, lack Of which is causing
Vienna to slowly die on the vine.
The Soviet reply has been that
the bridge will be removed or re-
| stored when labor and material are
available. Gen. Clark has gone a
step farther and offered to supply
| the engineering talent to rebuild it
or remove it, anything to restore
traffic on the river. The Russian
reply remains:
Navigation cannot be resumed.
The Tulln Bridge obstructs the
channel" So, as the Paris Confer
ence gets under way, we still have
the river boats and the Russians
have the bridge.
German Born Deported.
While the party of American edi-
tors, of which I was a member, was
dining with Gen. Clark and mem
bers of the Austrian cabinet, word
was received of the sudden Russian
order to deport some $4,000 Volks-
Eneutsche by am. the following
anorning. Gen. Clark has dealt with
the Russians for many months and
is irnmune to surprises, SO he quickly
visualized the deportees pouring
across into the American zone and
swamping all plans to feed displaced
persons. 1t was suggested that
Russian trains bearing the refugees
could be stopped at the American
zone border
That appeared to be an open
invitation to the Russians to stop
Jour trains bringing supplies to
Vienna, which must pass through
the Russian zone, so was obviously
out of order.
The Russians in Austria have
followed one Interpretation of the
Moscow declaration, the Americans
another, in regard to seizure of
property and deportation of the
German-born.
The section reads:
They united Kingdom, Soviet
Union and United States regard
the annexation imposed on Austria
by Germany on March Is, 1888, as
null and void. They consider them
selves as in no way bound by any
changes effected in Austria since
that date. They declare that they
wish to see re-established free and
Independent Austria, and thereby to
open the way for the Austrian
people themselves, as well as those
neighboring states which will be
faced with similar problems, to find
that political and economic security
which is the only basis for lasting
| peace"
The Americans interpret this as
exempting Germans who entered
Austria before 1888. The Russians
are deporting all born in Germany
Crops Poor This Year.
There is feeling in American
quarters that the Russians have no
interest in the restoration of Aus
tria as democracy and, short of an
actual break with the other mem
bers Of the Allied Council, will ham
per the operation of the Austrian
Central government In every way
possible. The recent deportation or
der came at time when every able
bodied person was needed for har-
vesting the crops. In fact, in the
American zone there was tacit
agreement that the subject would
be discussed after the crops were
gathered. Austrian. crops, at best,
will be poor this year due to a
severe drought. The Russians pro-
ceeded with the recent property
seizure and deportation order with
out consulting the other members
OF the Allied Council, although the
subject had been discussed in gen.
eral.
Socially, American relations with
Soviet authorities In Austria, have
been quite agreeable. Our officers
like the Russian officers and meet
with them often. Officially, however
the Americans are convinced that
the first desire of the Russians is to
destroy the new Austrian central
government (only one cabinet post
Is held by Communist), carry oil
all the physical assets of their zone
and convince the population that
thair o,,lu ca o1u,f{ap IT,. H.