158. [World War II]. Lt. General Geoffrey Keyes’ collection of letters, speeches and documents concerning the Allied/U.S. postwar reconstruction of Austria.

Secretary of State George C. Marshall’s European Recovery Program, developed at a meeting of the participating European states, was established on 5 June 1947. Austria finalized its program at the end of 1947 and received its initial Marshall Plan economic aid in March 1948. Lieutenant General Keyes felt that aid to Austria was needed immediately. Included in this collection is Keyes’ typed address, possibly his reading copy, delivered in Vienna on 25 June 1947, in the presence of the leaders of the Austrian government, “on the occasion of the signature of the Relief Agreement Between the United States and Austria.” He concluded, “I sincerely trust this assistance from the American people which you are accepting today will bring happiness and relief to the Austrian people and some measure of recovery to the Austrian economy.”

The post-war reconstruction of Austria: extraordinary grouping of letters, speeches and documents highlighting Allied/U.S. reconstruction efforts in Austria – from the collection of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes, U.S. High Commissioner in Austria.

Grouping includes:
(1) Lt. General Geoffrey Keyes’ United States Passport signed (“Geoffrey Keyes”) and on (2.5 x 2.5 in.; 64 x 64 mm.) “Photograph of bearer” affixed on page 4, 48 pages (3.75 x 6 in.; 95 x 152 mm.), “No. 369 Passport Legation of The United States of America at Vienna Austria.” Completed in manuscript. Issued in Vienna 12 February 1948. Stamped inside at the British Legation Visa Section in Vienna and the French Legation in Vienna in 1948 and, in 1949, stamped permission to travel in the US, British, French Zones of Germany, and from Vienna to France, Switzerland, and Holland. Never cancelled.

(2) Photo album, 14 separate pages (6.75 x 4.75 in.; 171 x 121 mm.), beige cloth over marbled purple boards. Gilt-lettered on the front cover “Headquarters Zone Command Austria Farewell Reception and Luncheon in Honor of GENERAL MARK W. CLARK Kavalier House Salzburg Austria 5 May 1947.” A (3.25 x 4.5 in.; 83 x 121 mm.) black & white photograph on each page including (2) of Keyes with Gen. Clark and other officers, (1) of Headquarters Zone Command Austria with a statue of Mozart in front, and interior and exterior views of Kavalier House. The Truman Library has the identical photograph album in their collection. This one also includes two loose photographs including an original (5 x 4 in.; 127 x 102 mm.) black & white with Keyes and Gen. Eisenhower.

(3) Important typed letter signed (“John J. McCloy”) as Assistant Secretary of War, 1 page (7 x 9 in.; 178 x 229 mm.), Washington, 19 August 1945, written to
“Lt. General Geoffrey Keyes, Commanding General, 2nd Corps, Salzburg, Germany [sic, Austria].” In full: I would like to express my thanks to you and the members of your Staff for their thoughtfulness and hospitality during my recent visit to Salzburg. I am sorry that my time was such as not to permit a longer visit with you. I should have liked to see more of the U.S. Zone in Austria, and to discuss in more detail the problems of our occupation there. Immediately upon our return to the United States we have been involved in the Japanese surrender business, and now the end of the long, hard fight has come. For the moment it has obliterated German and Austrian occupational problems but they will be on us again before the ink is dry on the Japanese surrender. My talks with General Clark at Verona has given me a greater insight into his problems. You may rely upon us here in Washington to do everything in our power to help you solve them. The occupation and annexation of Austria, including Salzburg, into German Third Reich (Anschluss) took place on 12 March 1938. Germany unconditionally surrendered on 7 May 1945. Salzburg became the center of the American-occupied area in Austria. On 15 August 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's unconditional surrender.

(4) Lieutenant General Keyes’ uniform shoulder patch of the U.S. Forces Head Quarters, Austria, (2 x 2.75 in.; 51 x 70 mm.).

(5) Unique oval wooden plaque, hand-painted in color, (9.5 x 6.5 in.; 241 x 165 mm.), with a map of Austria, its nine states, major cities, and connecting roads. In the upper left is the emblem of United States Forces Austria (same design as on patch above). Painted at the top: “MISSION: To reestablish a free, independent and democratic AUSTRIA with a sound economy, capable of insuring an adequate standard of living.”

Keyes’ vintage speeches delivered in Austria:
• “Restitution of Austrian Gold Reserve Vienna, 19 February 1947”
• “V-E Day Message 8 May 1947”
• “Memorial Day Message” 30 May 1947
• “Flag Day Message 14 June 1947”
• “British-American Ceremony, 15 June 1947”
• “Notes on Talk to Visiting Clergymen Vienna Austria, 30 June – 2 July ‘47”
• “Opening of the Salzburg Festivals, 27 July, 1947”
• “Fellow Americans” message approaching Christmas season 22 October 1947

Provenance: From the Estate of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes. $2,000 - $3,000

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June 11, 2015 11:00 AM PDT
26662 Agoura Rd
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