740.00119 EW/5–3146: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Political Adviser for Austria (Erhardt)
528. Discussion of Austrian question in forthcoming CFM meeting and agreement on treaty regarded by US as fundamentally important [Page 345] in negotiating whole range of treaties. Austrian settlement also desirable in terms of previous international commitments regarding Austrian independence and burden which presence of occupation forces is placing on future reconstruction.
In view of failure to obtain inclusion Austria on agenda recent CFM meeting, US hopes no factor exists in Austria which may delay Four Power agreement. Insistence by Soviet elements AC Vienna on failure of de-Nazification program may indicate possible future basis for refusal to discuss Austrian treaty and for demand that occupation forces and Allied controls be maintained.
You may wish together with General Clark to transmit full information concerning status and effectiveness of de-Nazification program of Austrian Govt and results of de-Nazification in US zone to Dept and to Paris before meeting June 15. Attention of Austrian Govt should be called to importance of complete information and its full cooperation enlisted. You may also wish to transmit any available information on progress of Austrian Govt’s program of de-Nazification in other zones.
Sent to Vienna as 528; repeated to Paris for Dunn as 2645.