C.F.M. Files: Lot M–88: Box 2061: CFM Documents
Communication by the Secretary General (La Grandville) to the Council of Foreign Ministers
C.F.M.(46) 66
Southern Tyrol: Views of the Austrian Government
I have the honour to forward herewith to the members of the Council copy of a letter dated 10th May 1946, addressed to me by the Representative of the Federal Government of Austria in Paris.
Two copies of a map11 which was attached to the above letter will be forwarded to each Delegation.
The Austrian Minister in France (Bischoff) to the Secretary General of the Council of Foreign Ministers (La Grandville)12
Sir: With reference to your note of 3rd May,13 I have the honour, on the instructions of my Government, to inform you as follows:
In accordance with the decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers dated 14th September 1945, the Federal Government of Austria submits herewith a proposal for a minor rectification of the Austro-Italian frontier.
[Page 358]As the decision in question was based on the idea that the exceptional disturbance in the Austrian communication system created by the 1919 frontier line might be disposed of by a minor rectification, the following solution would remedy the hardships in the problem of Austrian communications.
One of the major disadvantages of the 1919 frontier line was undoubtedly the interruption it caused in Austrian communications between Klagenfurt and Innsbruck, the effect of which was to split up the Tyrol into two parts, namely Northern Tyrol and Eastern Tyrol; this has meant that there has, up to the present day, been no territorial cohesion and their joint administration met with immense difficulties. A frontier rectification which would bring the line connecting the Klagenfurt-Lienz and the Brenner-Innsbruck sections back to Austrian territory would certainly be extremely beneficial both to Austrian economy and communications and to a revival of Austrian tourist traffic.
This railway line follows the Rienz (Pustertal) valley, rejoins the Eisack valley between Brixen and Franzensfeste and crossing the Brenner in a northernly direction comes out at Innsbrück. Geographical considerations would require the town of Brixen, which is closely linked with the Klagenfurt-Innsbruck line to be included in this minor rectification, since Brixen is the natural center of the Lower Pustertal, and, in addition, the Rienz and Eisack valleys meet on the territory of the town of Brixen. Furthermore this town has, for many centuries, been the seat of the Bishops of Tyrol and Northern Tyrol is still part of the diocese of Brixen. Brixen is genuinely Austrian in character. Situated above the gorges of the Eisack (Klausen), its natural orientation is northward towards the Pustertal. Thus the town of Brixen should be included in the suggested rectification.
In order not to impair local communications and economy, it would be necessary to include in this frontier rectification the lateral valleys to the south of the Pustertal, otherwise these lateral valleys would be cut off from all communications particularly in winter. From this standpoint also the non-inclusion of Brixen would have the effect of producing a rather awkward frontier line.
The foregoing suggests the following frontier rectification: The frontier should, in general, follow the watershed between the Eisack and the Etsch, starting from the Schwarzwandspitze and passing through the following points: Botzer, Kreuzspitze, then crossing the Eisack valley towards the Peitlerkofl massif, and Geislerspitze; thereafter it should again follow the watershed between the Rienz and the Etsch and the Rienz and the Piave and finally reach the present Austrian frontier at the Eisenreich (2665 meters) passing through Boespitze,
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Settsass, Fanisspitzen, Neunerspitze, Eisengabelspitze, Soekofl, Hohe Gaisl, Monte Cristallo, Drei Zinnen and Kreuzberg.14
[Page 359]I should be obliged if you would be good enough to lay this proposal for a minor rectification before the Council of Foreign Ministers. I have the honour etc.…
- The map under reference is not reproduced here. Austrian territorial claims in the South Tyrol are depicted on the map facing p. 358. The solid red line defines the earlier Austrian claim to the entire South Tyrol. The broken red line defines the minor frontier rectifications described in the document printed here.↩
- The proposals set forth in this letter were discussed by the Council of Foreign Ministers at its 17th Meeting, May 14, 1946, 4 p.m.; see the United States Delegation Record of that meeting, p. 382.↩
- Reference here is to La Grandville’s letter of May 3 to Bischoff, the text of which was contained in C.F.M.(46) 39, May 3, 1946, not printed.↩
In a supplementary aide-mémoire dated May 13, 1946, which was circulated to the Council as C.F.M.(46) 86, May 15, 1946, not printed, Bischoff observed that hydro-electric power stations at Brixen and elsewhere in area claimed by Austria produced 615,000,000 KWH annually of the total hydro-electric power of the South Tyrol of 2,006,000,000 KWH annually. Bischoff’s aide-mémoire added the following:
↩“The Federal Government of Austria has frequently stated that in the event of South Tyrol being returned to Austria they would be prepared to grant special status to the power-stations in question, so that they would remain Italian property and would be able to continue to export their power to Italy without impediment. These declarations are equally valid for the hydro-electric power-stations in the Brixen area.” (C.F.M. Files: Lot M–88: Box 2061: CFM Documents)