§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for War whether representative provincial government and town councils are being set up and are functioning in those parts of Austria occupied by the British Forces; and whether democratic political parties and trade unions are permitted to operate.
§ Sir J. GriggIt is the policy of His Majesty's Government that in all parts of Austria occupied by British Forces democratic Austrian institutions should be allowed and encouraged to functions wherever practicable. As conditions become stabilised this policy will, of course, progressively be put into effect.
§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of of State for War whether Western Austria is being occupied by Allied troops as a separate national entity; or whether Bavaria is included in the administrative organisation.
§ Sir J. GriggIt is certainly the policy of His Majesty's Government that Austria should, as soon as possible, be severed from all parts of Germany and treated as a separate entity. The hon. Member will appreciate that the present position in regard to the military occupation of Austria is necessarily transitional, but I can assure him that Austria will, from the earliest practicable moment, be administered as an entirely separate country.