863.20/79
The Ambassador in Italy (Long) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24.]
Sir: With reference to my telegram No. 85 of August 7, 1933, 5 p.m.,7 reporting among other things Austria’s request that she be permitted by France, England, and Italy to increase her military strength in order that the Dollfuss government might be in a better position to combat Nazi opposition, I have the honor to inform the Department that I have learned from reliable sources that Austria desires to raise her armed forces from about 22,000 men, which is her present establishment, to 30,000. Austria is allowed an army of 30,000 maximum by treaty,8 but the way in which she proposes to effect the increase of 8,000 men is not provided for by treaty, and it is only upon this question that she was obliged to consult the other treaty signatories. It is understood that Great Britain, France, and Italy have agreed to Austria’s request for 30,000 men, but no more, and that the Little Entente countries have been invited to do the same.
Respectfully yours,