Paris Peace Conf. 184.01102/447

Professor A. C. Coolidge to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

No. 260

Sirs: I have the honor to enclose herewith a memorandum I have received from the Austrian Government32 containing a mémoire on the future of the Tyrol. I also enclose a translation of the formal resolutions passed by the government on this subject,32 and in my telegram No. 329 of yesterday32 I reported that the Tyrolese Landtag [Page 308] had voted unanimously, except for the Socialists, that if it were necessary to save its integrity the Tyrol should set itself up as an independent neutral republic; but that if the Tyrol were doomed to lose its southern portion, the remainder should annex itself to Germany. The Socialists, who opposed the motion, declared themselves in favor of annexation under any circumstances. In either case, this looks like a severance of the connection between the Tyrol and the rest of German-Austria, which is thus being reduced to ever smaller dimensions but which seems prepared to accept without demur the action of the Tyrolese.

As I have more than once pointed out in my reports there is nothing surprising in the stand now taken by the people of the Tyrol. From the first they have been prepared to employ every means in their power and make every sacrifice in order to retain the ancient German-speaking territory of Bozen and Meran, and in this they can count on the strongest sympathy on the part of all, not only German Austrians but German speaking people everywhere. The cutting off of the German speaking population south of the Brenner and their forcible Italization, which may be expected, will inevitably provoke deep and long lasting indignation. All this has doubtless been taken into due consideration, so that I need add no comment. It is also highly natural that North Tyrol if left to itself, a thin strip of mountains with little body and long frontiers, should feel itself constrained to enter into political union with the territory to the north. This territory is inhabited by people who are kin to the Tyrolese in every way, and nothing but historical accident has kept the two apart.

In the event that Northern Tyrol is annexed to Bavaria I trust that the Vorarlberg may be encouraged to join itself to Switzerland. I have reported on this matter several times, and particularly in a memorandum handed in to me by Major Lawrence Martin enclosed with my Dispatch 231,33 in which the subject is treated at some length. I am aware that the Swiss are not enthusiastic over such a union, and recognize that it may mean certain dangers for them. If Austria were to continue as an independent state, Vorarlberg might remain part of it as it has in the past. But if the frontier of Germany is to be brought down to the Brenner Pass it is desirable that this boundary should not extend to the northern edge of the Canton of the Grisons and that the eastern frontier of Switzerland should be strengthened. So far I have no information as to how the people of the Vorarlberg feel about the latest vote of the Tyrolese Diet; but even supposing their non-Socialist members supported it, as they seem to have done, this does not prove that they and those they represent do not favor the annexation of their own particular district to Switzerland—which so [Page 309] far as our evidence goes is desired by the considerable majority of the population. It is not yet certain that the Swiss will remain opposed to it.

I have [etc.]

Archibald Cary Coolidge
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  4. Text of memorandum is printed on p. 293; despatch No. 231 not printed.