Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, Council of Foreign Ministers; Germany and Austria, Volume II

740.0011 EW (Peace)/12–347

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State¹

London, December 3, 1947.

Participants:	The Secretary
	Dr. Gruber, Austrian Foreign Minister
	Mr. Hickerson

Dr. Gruber came in to see me at 12 noon today by appointment made at his request. He opened the conversation by expressing Austria’s grateful appreciation for all that the U.S. has done in Austria’s behalf. He said that he earnestly hopes that it will be possible to complete an Austrian Treaty at an early date. He said that he realizes that there are certain risks to Austria in this course but that he believes that it is, taking everything into account, the most desirable course to be followed.

Dr. Gruber said that the French proposal² for dealing with the Soviet claims to German assets is in his opinion the most feasible approach which has yet been brought forward and he feels that it should be strongly supported by the three Western Powers. Dr. Gruber went on to say that if during the course of the present meeting of the CFM, it becomes clear that an Austrian Treaty is not in sight, there are two things which he thinks the three Western Powers should do to fix clearly the responsibility for the breakdown on the USSR: (1) The three Western Powers should publicly renounce their claims to German assets in the Western zones and (2) The Western Powers should declare their readiness to agree to the withdrawal of all occupation forces from Austria.

Dr. Gruber said that the offer to withdraw troops should, of course, be conditional on the Soviet Government’s withdrawing its occupation forces.

I told Dr. Gruber that the U.S. would continue to press for the conclusion of an Austrian Treaty at the earliest possible date. I said that I had considered the two proposals which he had just made but that I could tell him that he must know from the attitude we have assumed in the past that the U.S. claim to German assets in its zone of Austria will not be an obstacle to a settlement.

I told him that our principal problem in this whole matter is on a choice of tactics and that I am sure that he understands that the U.S. Delegation will continue to do everything it can to obtain a fair and equitable solution of the Austrian problem at the earliest possible moment.

Dr. Gruber said that he would probably send me a letter in the next day or so asking that I consider using our good offices with the Italian Government on behalf of a reasonable attitude on the part of Italy in the current negotiations with Austria respecting South Tyrol. He said that in his opinion the Communists in Austria and Italy are basically the cause of the difficulties in connection with the negotiations.

I then told Dr. Gruber about the Yugoslav request to be heard in the CFM in regard to Austria.³ I told him that I intended when this subject is raised to interpose no objection to Yugoslavia’s being heard provided they do not merely repeat what they have said in the past but are presenting new material. I said that it seemed to me that on ground of equity as well as a practicable matter, it would be desirable for Austria to be represented to hear the Yugoslav statement and to have an opportunity to reply to it. Dr. Gruber at once said that he felt that Austria should have such a right. He said that he could send a note in the next hour to the Secretary to the CFM asking for such a right and he inquired whether I saw any objection to his doing that. I replied that I saw no objection.

1. See also the memorandum submitted to the Secretary of State by Foreign Minister Gruber on December 15, p. 1226.
2. The reference here is to document CFM/ATC (47)76, October 8, 1947, p. 620.
3. In a note to the Secretary of State on October 31, 1947, not printed, the Yugoslav Ambassador requested that Yugoslavia be invited to send its representatives to be heard at the forthcoming session of the Council of Foreign Ministers. Similar requests were sent to the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and France. In his reply of November 7, not printed, the Secretary suggested that Yugoslavia’s request be submitted directly to the Council (740.00119 Council/10–3147). In note verbale of December 1, 1947, subsequently circulated to the Council of Foreign Ministers as document CFM(47) (L)14, December 1, 1947, not printed, the Yugoslav Ambassador in London renewed his government’s request to be beard at the Council session (CFM Files).