Allied Control Councils and Commissions

Extract

Allied Commission for Austria

In December, 1946, the main quadripartite decisions of the Allied Commission for Austria included progress in the solution of the food crisis, reduction of occupation costs for 1947, denazification plans and de-control of Austria's foreigntrade.

After considerable debate and disagreement over the food situation, the Allied Commission decided, on December 3, to allow free movement of food stocks, thus relaxing the previous restrictions on the export of food from the Soviet zone. A basic agreement was approved whereby the Austrian Government would present a de-tailed monthly food plan to the Allied Council; the plan was to be studied and ap-proved by the Economic Directorate in conjunction with UNRRA and the Austrian government. Accordingly, all food was to be pooled for distribution by the Austrian government in conformity with approved monthly food plans. Further 1946 recommendations concerning food centered around 1) a procedure by which food plans were to be passed through the hands of the Allied Council Food Committee, the Economic Directorate, UNRRA, the Ministry of Food, etc., based on a minimum number of days before any plan could become effective, and 2) measures to increase collection of agricultural produce. During a meeting of the Council, on January 10, the USSR agreed with the Western occupation powers to pool zonal food resources in order to bridge the 19,000 ton deficit left by slow food shipments and to maintain the 1,550-calory ration for the population. On April 24, however, it was indicated that the Soviet zone had not met its quota, although other zones had exceeded theirs.