740.00119 Control (Austria)/2–1846
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
| Participants: | Dr. Ludwig Kleinwaechter, newly appointed Representative of Austria |
| The Secretary | |
| Mr. Riddleberger, CE |
The newly appointed Representative of Austria, Dr. Ludwig Kleinwaechter,48 called at his request to see the Secretary. He was accompanied by Mr. Riddleberger.
The Representative handed the Secretary his letter of introduction49 and said he was very proud and pleased to be here as Austria’s first representative after those terrible years. He said also that he had been requested to transmit the thanks of his Government to the Secretary, which he hoped the Secretary would convey to the President, for the part of the United States in the liberation of Austria and also for the great assistance they are now receiving from the United States in food, clothing, etc.
The Secretary told Dr. Kleinwaechter he was pleased to welcome him. He said he realized the people of Austria must face many problems.
Dr. Kleinwaechter said he wished to bring to the attention of the Secretary some of the specific problems. He stated that they would like as soon as possible to have a reduction of the occupation troops in Austria. They could not begin reconstruction or stabilize their currency so long as so many troops remained there. He explained to the Secretary the effect on their currency of the large number of Russian troops.
Mr. Riddleberger told the Secretary he had stated to Dr. Kleinwaechter that the US is interested in reduction of Russian troops and have requested that they be reduced as soon as possible.
Dr. Kleinwaechter said they are also interested in conclusion of the treaty, which might solve the problems.50
The Secretary said that he too believes it might solve some of the problems. He said he had requested reduction of troops, but as yet has not received a reply from the Soviets.51 He said the Generalissimo had told him when they discussed the matter that Russian troops did [Page 309] not live off the countries which they occupied. The Secretary inquired as to how many Russian troops are in Austria.
The Minister (Dr. Kleinwaechter) said there were over ten times as many as the US has there, and estimated the number to be about 400,000. He stated that they do live off the country, which by now is entirely cleaned out. He said the Russians have made excuses for not bringing food into Austria from Southern Russia saying that this part of Russia was cleaned out by the Germans.
The Minister stated further that he had been advised by his Government that any machinery or equipment obtained for Austria should remain the property of the US, otherwise it would be taken over after it was sent to Austria. Also any money that might be borrowed from the US would not be allowed to remain in Austria’s possession.
The Secretary stated that the US could not consider at this time making a loan to Austria.
Mr. Riddleberger stated that we are attempting to get UNRRA’s program for Austria into operation, but the worry there again is that it will pass through Austrian hands.
The Secretary said he thought it would be well to push ahead now for the peace treaty with Austria and not wait for the Conference in May,52 and also to try to get the reduction of troops. He said he thought the treaty must come before it would be possible to get a reduction of troops.
Dr. Kleinwaechter brought to the Secretary’s attention also the question of South Tyrol and Italy’s claim to that territory. He said it is important to Austria both as a source of food and for tourist traffic.
The Secretary stated that this matter is under discussion in London53 and he can make no commitments here because he does not have the latest information on what Mr. Dunn has accomplished in London.
The Secretary told Dr. Kleinwaechter he was glad to have had a talk with him and the Minister thanked the Secretary for receiving him.
- For the approval of designation of an Austrian representative in the United States, see Department of State Bulletin, February 3, 1946, p. 177.↩
- Not found in Department files.↩
- In despatch 810, February 8, from Vienna, Mr. Erhardt reported that the Austrian Foreign Minister had presented to him under covering note of February 2 the outline and German text of a proposed treaty “for the reinstatement of Austria into its rightful position”. (863.01/2–846)↩
- See telegram 623, January 19, to London, p. 298.↩
- This is a reference to the meeting of the Foreign Ministers in Paris, April 25 to July 12, 1946, to negotiate the peace treaties; see volume ii.↩
- For documentation on the meeting of the Deputies of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London, see vol. ii, pp. 1 ff.↩