740.00119 Council/4–1747: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
urgent
1426. Delsec 1435. For the President, Vandenberg, Connally and Acheson from Marshall. Thirty-second CFM meeting April 17,80 Molotov presiding, resumed discussion of the draft treaty for Austria.81
Speaking for the Soviet Union, Vyshinsky argued for the adoption of the Soviet draft clause which provides that Austria will complete the transfer of all displaced persons within six months and instructs Austria to enter into bi-lateral negotiations with its neighbors to settle this problem. Marshall said the Soviet draft was unacceptable because the US has consistently opposed the forced repatriation of DPs which would have to be resorted to if all DPs were removed from Austria within six months. Marshall and Bidault accepted a British draft clause under which Austria would apply to all its DPs the principles of the resolution adopted by the United Nations assembly in February 1946. Vyshinsky maintained that the UN resolution (which forbids forced repatriation of bona fide DPs and which was approved by the Assembly despite Soviet opposition) does not apply to Austria. Bevin, after stating that the Soviet proposal made a national problem out of what is an international problem growing out of the war, proposed a compromise clause which Vyshinsky promptly rejected and no agreement was reached.
Differences also arose over the transfer from Austria of persons of German origin. The Soviets asked that these transfers be completed within six months, while the US, UK and France would instruct Austria to cooperate with the Allied Control Council for Germany in solving this problem. Marshall pointed out that the Soviet proposal would require the return of these people despite the fact that ACC has not yet agreed that such people can be absorbed into Germany now. Bidault pointed out that France has opposed further transfers of persons into Germany. The question was sent to the deputies for the study of new Soviet amendments.
The Council agreed to limit Austria’s army to 53,000 men and an air force of 90 aircraft with not more than 5,000 personnel.
An article prohibiting service in the Austrian armed forces of former members of Nazi and other organizations and an article prohibiting the military training of personnel not in the Austrian armed forces were approved in principle. Several clauses dealing with prohibitions on specified military activities were also approved.
Marshall stated that in attempting to prevent Austria from contributing [Page 353] to any revival of German aggression the Council should avoid imposing so many restrictions on Austria that its normal economic development would be hindered. He said the Council should not contribute to a situation in which Austrian weakness might be a contributing cause of another war. He pointed out that before the occupation period in Germany ended, the United Nations would have acted on the problem of disarmament thus obviating the inclusion in the Austrian treaty of detailed prohibitions and limitations on scientific research, stock piling, and manufacture of certain devices.
Bevin agreed, but Bidault insisted on detailed prohibitions as a guarantee against another surprise attack by a revived Germany. Vyshinsky also defended the list of limitations and no agreement reached.
The Council adjourned after completing discussion of all military clauses.
Repeated London 163 Berlin 283.
Department please pass to Vienna as 41, Rome as 38 and Paris as 148.