711.6312Anti-War/7

The Chargé in Austria (Greene) to the Secretary of State

No. 1942

Sir: I have the honor to acknowedge the receipt of the Department’s circular telegram of August 16, 11 p.m., 1928, with which was transmitted the text of the note to be dated August 27, 1928, informing the Austrian Government of the signing of the multilateral Anti-war Treaty in Paris and quoting the text of the Treaty, and to refer to my telegrams No. 39 of August 25, 10 a.m. and No. 40 of August 28, 11 a.m.,34 reporting that I had complied with [Page 169] the Department’s instructions and stating that the Austrian Government was ready to adhere to the Anti-war pact and that the question would be taken up at a meeting of the Cabinet Council on August 30.

I now have the honor to transmit herewith enclosed a copy and translation of a note dated August 30, received today from Dr. Seipel, Federal Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs. This note, in acknowledging the receipt of my note of August 27, states that the Austrian Government at the meeting of the Cabinet Council yesterday August 30, decided to adhere to the Treaty and that it will submit the resolution to the National Council and the Bundesrat as soon as possible. As soon as the National Council and the Bundesrat, which meet in September, exact date as yet unannounced, have approved Austria’s adherence to the Treaty, the Austrian Minister in Washington will be appropriately instructed.

In connection with my presentation of the note, I have the honor to report that the Secretary’s telegram from Paris dated August 27, 3 p.m., was not delivered to the Legation until 8 p.m. I had of course informed the Foreign Office that I expected to deliver the note on August 27 immediately after receiving the Secretary’s telegram. Owing to the lateness of the hour, the Austrian Foreign Office informed me by telephone that they would prefer the note to be delivered on the morning of August 28. This I did, at the same time including in a second note, also dated August 27, a copy of the official French text of the Treaty, in compliance with the Department’s Instruction dated August 21 received from the American Embassy in Paris.35

The Austrian Foreign Office on the same day gave a translation of the note for publication, and this appeared in the afternoon editions of August 28. Secretary General Peter, acting for Dr. Seipel in the latter’s absence, informed me that the Federal Chancellor was most anxious to have the note published at the earliest possible moment, and acting under his instructions the Austrian Foreign Office insured its publication in the local press on the day the note was received.

I have [etc.]

Elbridge Gerry Greene
[Enclosure—Translation]

The Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Seipel) to the American Chargé (Greene)

No. 24.136/13

Mr. Chargé d’Affaires: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the esteemed note of the 27th instant, in which you inform [Page 170] me of the fact that a general war proscription pact has been signed in Paris and in the name of your Government invite Austria to adhere to this pact.

I am happy to be able to inform you today that the Austrian Government,

in recognition of the fact that this pact forms an excellent means for assuring universal peace;

in the consciousness that the ideas expressed in the pact correspond absolutely with the fundamental ideas according to which the policy of the Austrian Republic has always been conducted;

and in the desire to express not only its full sympathy for the pact, but also its appreciation for those men to whose brave initiative the realization of this important treaty is due, by means of a speedy declaration of adherence to the pact;

has decided to carry out the adherence of Austria to the war proscription pact signed on August 27 a. c. in Paris by the authorized representatives of the United States of America, Australia, Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, India, the Irish Free State, Italy, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa and Czechoslovakia, according to article III of the said pact.

The Federal Government will endeavor to submit this resolution as soon as possible to the National Council and the Federal Council for approval. As soon as this is done, the Austrian Minister at Washington will be instructed to present to the Secretary of State of the United States the declaration of adhesion.

Begging you to inform your Government of the above, I beg [etc.]

Seipel
  1. Neither printed.
  2. Not printed.