Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, General, Volume I

863.014/29

The Department of State to the British Embassy

Memorandum

The Department of State has examined with attention the documents attached to the aide-mémoire of the British Embassy of August 28.

The status of Austria as set forth in the Foreign Office’s secret paper “The Future of Austria,”⁵⁹ and the observations made therein as to the prospects for a viable independent Austria are in general concordance with the Department’s views.

The Department is also agreeable to the proposal that a declaration concerning Austria be made jointly by the British, Soviet, and American Governments. In substance the draft text submitted with the aide-mémoire as a basis of discussion would be acceptable to the Department. Since, however, the American Government has not yet had occasion for a definite statement of policy on the matter of federations or confederations in Central and Eastern Europe, the Department would prefer that the text of the declaration should not carry the implication that Austrian independence is to be conditioned on “association with neighboring states,” however desirable it may be that the way should be left open for Austria’s inclusion in some regional structure.

The Department would like to make two further comments, both matters of drafting rather than substance. First, it believes that the phrase

“The Governments of the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America are determined to liberate the Austrian people …”

could be interpreted to indicate an action taken regardless of the will of the Austrian people, or without expectation of any Austrian contribution to the achievement of this liberation. Second, the opening paragraph might well be recast since it refers to events preceding the formulation of the Atlantic Charter.

With these considerations in mind the Department has prepared a variant text of the British draft declaration. This alternative draft is attached hereto, for the Embassy’s examination.

Washington , October 9, 1943.

[Enclosure]

Alternative Draft of Proposed Declaration, Suggested by the Department of State

Having taken counsel together in the spirit of the Atlantic Charter, the Governments of the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America are agreed that Austria, the first free country to fall a victim to Nazi aggression, shall be liberated from German domination.

They regard the union imposed upon Austria by Germany on the 15th of March 1938 as null and void. They consider themselves as in no way bound by any changes effected in Austria since that date. They declare that they wish to reestablish a free and independent Austria, and thereby to open the way for the Austrian people themselves to find, in association with those neighboring States which will be faced with similar problems, that political and economic security which is the only basis for lasting peace.

The Austrian people must, however, remember that they have a responsibility which they cannot evade, and that in the final settlement account will inevitably be taken of their own contribution to the liberation of their country.

59. Not printed.