740.00119 Council/4–1747: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
1425. Kosmos 48. Top Secret Eyes Only Acheson from Marshall. Please personally deliver following to the President:
“Dear Mr. President: We are now about midway in Austrian treaty discussion. While a number of disagreements have been passed over the impression I have at the moment is that the prospects are not so black as they previously appeared. Most of the disputed points, in fact all of them so far can, I think, be resolved in a final going over unless there is a determination not to have an Austrian settlement at this time. The most critical issue, German assets in Soviet Zone, comes up tomorrow or next day. The action on it will in my opinion be determining.
We are meeting twice a day now and the Yugoslavs and Austrians are being given a hearing. The latter tomorrow morning.78
I am not certain that the Soviets may not compromise sufficiently to make possible a Four Power pact, though I feel certain they do not desire such a pact and tried to kill it with amendments including every important disputed issue.
I think Bidault is very anxious to get back to the critical political situation in France and I think Bevin also anxious for much the same reason. Therefore I am being silent on any indication of feeling that the conference must close out with so little progress to its credit.
I think we are now seeing some results of my interview with Stalin.79
In that connection I do hope no leak on that interview will occur as I think I will profit much more if our discussion, particularly my frank statements, do not appear to stir up all sorts of talk which will merely stiffen his backbone in resentment. Later on we might find it desirable to release his statement, but I doubt it.
The package you gave me proved to be all you represented it to be and has contributed materially to my conference efforts. Signed Marshall.”