A TASS correspondent and a representative of the press department of the French occupation forces in Austria inquire after the purpose of Otto von Habsburg's presence in Austria.

TASS reports on French news stories it views as slanderous to Stalin, including stories on his declining health and what it will mean for Russian foreign policy should Zhdanov succeed him.

Report that the French press has been instructed by the Ministry of Information not to spread any information of foreign policy favorable to the USSR.

Articles on the Yalta Conference, Foreign Minister Molotov's influence in the Soviet Union, and Stalin's alleged illness.

French newspaper "Pari-Press" reported on rumors of Stalin's departure for the Caucuses on vacation, and claimed this confirmed rumors Stalin was ill; Newspaper "Chicago Tribune" similarly reported rumors of Stalin's retirement and a resulting 'behind-the-scenes battle for power' between Zhukov, backed by the army, and Molotov, backed by the Communist Party.