863.014/1–346
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Central European Affairs (Riddleberger)
The Federal Austrian Chancellery on November 30, 1945 submitted to the Allied Council for Austria a memorandum over the signature of Dr. Gruber, Minister without Portfolio for Foreign Affairs, requesting the incorporation of the South Tyrol into Austria. The Council took note of the memorandum but did not consider that the question fell within its competency and decided that each representative would send a copy to his Government.
I consider that the receipt of this memorandum from the United States Representative on the Allied Council for Austria points to the need for reopening of the discussion on the question of the Italo-Austrian frontier on the basis of the recommendations contained in the State Department policy paper “The Treatment of Austria” (PWC 218),6 which received the approval of President Roosevelt. The recommendations made in this paper are as follows: [Page 287]
“The Austro-Italian Frontier:—It is recommended that the frontier between Austria and Italy be rectified by cession to Austria of the Italian province of Bolzano with the provision that minor adjustments of this line may be made in accordance with the distribution of the linguistic groups.
The Committee has proposed this solution because:
- a.
- It recognizes this area as Austrian in its history, culture and tradition, and as an area which will probably be predominantly Austrian in population at the end of the war;
- b.
- The retrocession of this region to Austria would aid both in the political and economic reconstruction of an Austrian state;
- c.
- The loss to Italy through this cession would be slight in comparison with the gain to Austria”.
The available statistics provide indisputable evidence that the population of Bolzano is Germanic. The Italian Government is reported to be sending in many Italian nationals in anticipation of a plebiscite in this area. It is well known that the ethnic principle was disregarded in disposing of this area after the first World War and that in spite of the efforts of Hitler and Mussolini the province of Bolzano did not lose its Austrian characteristics. The action of the Allied Powers in the Treaty of Versailles in giving this area to Italy has been severely criticized. It is apparent that if Bolzano is not returned to Austria or if a plebiscite is not held to determine the wishes of the local population, the Allied Powers will repeat the mistake made after the first World War.
The cession of Bolzano to Austria would provide an impetus to the Austrian national feeling and would create a stronger national state than any which might result from the re-establishment of the previous frontier between Austria and Italy. It would likewise strengthen the western orientation in Austria. The creation of a healthy Austrian state is of basic importance in the entire Danubian area and could be used as an important part of an active program for the rehabilitation of the small states of Central Europe.
The loss of Bolzano should not entail serious economic difficulties for Italy and would aid the economic reconstruction for Austria. If Bolzano is ceded to Austria it is suggested that the United States advocate the establishment of a joint machinery between Italy and Austria to provide for the equitable distribution of electric power generated in Bolzano. Arrangements might also be made between Austria and Italy to provide for Austrian use of port facilities in Trieste.
In view of these considerations, I recommend that the question of South Tyrol be included in the forthcoming negotiations for a peace treaty with Italy and that the United States support its policy recommendation that the Austro-Italian frontier be rectified by the cession of Bolzano to Austria.
- For text, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. i, p. 438.↩