Subject: Transmitting memorandum of a conversation
with Dr. Renner.
Dr. Renner’s statement of the French attitude agrees in principle
with the view of Lt. Col. Sir Thomas Cunningham, Chief of the
British Military Mission, and myself. The Department will remember
that I reported that Prince Borghese, the Italian Minister who is
chief of the Mission, had said in the presence of Colonel
Cunningham, Captain Gregory and myself, that M. Allizé, the French
Minister in charge of the French Mission had said to him that France
desired to “Strangle German-Austria” and was willing for the
Bolsheviks to continue in Hungary that Hungary might be
weakened.
I have marked this report “confidential” because of the embarrassment
that any publicity would necessarily cause.
[Enclosure]
Memorandum of a Conversation With Dr.
Renner, September 15, 1919
Dr. Renner expressed himself as most thankful for the support
given to Austria during the negotiations of the Peace Treaty by
the
[Page 571]
United States and
the United Kingdom. He expressed the hope that I would state
this specifically to the President and to all the American
Members of the Peace Conference. The Italians had desired to
make a separate Treaty with Austria regarding works of art and
other things and had proposed this treaty fourteen days before
the handing over of the Peace Treaty. They had promised that if
this Treaty were signed they would support Austria in Paris.
Inasmuch as Austria did not sign the treaty and despite the fact
that the United States and England opposed the retention by
Italy of the works of art she had seized, the Italians are
displeased with Austria.
Asked what were the Italian plans with regard to Austria, Dr.
Renner stated they wanted close commercial relations, and now
that they had secured what they desired—reference was made to
the south Tyrol—they were not particularly interested
politically. The conversation turned to commercial relations
between Italy and Austria and Dr. Renner confirmed the report
which I have already made to the Department that Italian
textiles had been taken across the frontier by the Italian
officers and without payment of tariff duties against which
practice Austria could do nothing. There was another, and
perhaps more important, practice of the Italians and that was to
deal with people who sought to get out of Austria artistic
objects and jewelry which might be seized in connection with the
work of the Reparation Commission. The persons who desired to
send from Austria their precious jewels, and other objects paid
ten per cent to the Italian officers to get them across the
frontier. This has caused the illegal exportations of works of
art and jewelry worth millions of crowns. To stop these things
Dr. Renner declared Austria could do nothing.
I asked Dr. Renner exactly what he meant in his interview in an
evening paper regarding the present policy being one of looking
toward the west. He said that in the days of the old Empire
Austria’s policy had always looked toward the east. Austria
could not, however, now make overtures to the Czecho-Slovaks,
the Magyars, the Poles and the Jugo-Slavs whose attitudes were
not friendly. They would suspect her of trying indirectly to
restore the old relations that existed prior to the dissolution
of the Empire. These people are suspicious of Austria as they
had been before breaking up of the old Empire. Austria could,
therefore, make no overtures but she could receive them if they
were originated by the other peoples.
Austria looked to the United States and England for help, her
only desire is for peace. Thanks to the United States and to
England, though the Treaty is very hard, it is better than that
which was presented to her. The unfriendly attitude of France
made a better treaty impossible—Austria desires and proposes to
live up to that Treaty.
[Page 572]
Austria hopes that England and America will propose and work
for the formation of a Danube Federation and Austria would
gladly support such a federation. Such a federation would be for
peace because the United States and the United Kingdom desire
peace. They have no warlike ideas. A Danube federation under
French auspices, however, could not be considered. The French
are so full of spirit so visionary—they think of war—that such a
federation would look to French interests as opposed to those of
the Germanic peoples. Such a federation could never make for
peace and Austria must, and will have, peace for the future. The
French are not Austria’s friends and they showed that at St.
Germain. Austria can not have confidence in France. She has no
reason to trust the French. The French Minister professes to be
very friendly but—and Dr. Renner shrugged his shoulders—meaning
that M. Allizé did not justify his professions by his
actions.
Dr. Renner again returned to the position of the United States
and England had taken and he expressed his thanks for friendly
attitude of the two countries. He said “Please say that we will
gladly do all that America and England wish”.
Reconciliation of the
Anglo-Saxons and the Germanic peoples.
Dr. Renner in answer to an inquiry stated that he would remain as
Foreign Minister but would devote himself entirely to foreign
affairs and have nothing to do with the administration of the
office. His policy was that of peace and the establishment of
particularly close relations with the United States and the
United Kingdom. He desires to endeavor to reconcile the
Anglo-Saxon and the Germanic peoples. This did not mean any
steps towards the union of the Germanic peoples. That is now
impossible. He meant that the relations between the Anglo-Saxons
and the Germanic people could be made better. Reference was made
to the old Prussian ideas which he said could no longer prevail.
Germany had become less important and her development must be
continental and not maritime. The nations must work together for
peace and the League of Nations must be made a reality. He hoped
that in the future the people of England and the United States
who desired to study German literature and art would come to
Vienna for they would not now go to Berlin. The Vienna people
are a friendly people and they would welcome the Americans and
the English and gladly give them of their knowledge.
Austria’s inner
politics.
Dr. Renner spoke confidently of the Austrian situation. Austria
has not as yet a really good Government but that the Government
is steadily improving and would grow stronger. At my request he
[Page 573]
discussed
relations between parties. He admitted there were differences in
opinion between the two wings of the social democrats—the
workingmens party—but these differences were not sufficient to
make a break. His wing, the right wing, is the stronger and not
so radical. The workingmen generally support him rather than the
left. The left wing is too radical. It contains the Jewish
intellectuals and they are dreamers and impractical who do not
think clearly. As he said this he made a gesture toward his
forehead to indicate that they were just a little mad. It was
necessary that there should be cooperation with the so-called
Christian social party. The latter also has two elements, the
town element, and the peasant element, the former opposed to Dr.
Renner and his party because after years of control of the city
of Vienna, the town Christian socialists had lost the city
government where they had not managed well and had done many
improper things. The town Christian Socialists resent that and
consequently spread tales of disaffection among the social
democrats to the embarrassment of the latter. With these town
Christian Socialists the clerical people cooperate indirectly.
The peasants are Christians but not clerical. They realize the
necessity of a good government and of cooperation to secure the
same. The two parties will work together despite these
difficulties.
Dr. Renner intimated that there would be cabinet changes but not
very many. It is necessary at the present moment to secure a
capable man for the position of financial Minister which is a
most unpopular position. He had in view the President of the
Boden Credit Anstalt but that was not settled. The position is
thankless and it would mean a sacrifice of at least eighty
percent of his salary if this man were to accept the
position.
Asked as to what would be Dr. Bauer’s position he said that Dr.
Bauer preferred to be the leader of the social democrats in the
National Assembly and without cabinet rank and that he has no
desire to return as Foreign Minister. In the National Assembly
Dr. Bauer will support the cabinet and use his great ability to
promote the interests of Austria.
Dr. Renner stated that there were bad elements and good elements
in the Volkswehr—the peoples guard—which
would not be abolished but would be reformed so as to become a
really useful and dependable force. All possible steps would be
taken to strengthen Austria’s position and to get the people
back to work but the problems are very difficult.
The impression was gained that Dr. Renner was very earnest, and
despite the difficult problems, was confident of their solution
on practical lines.
