CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 75: Austria 1947
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Central European Affairs ( Williamson )
Dr. Gruber called at my room at 11:00 p.m. last night and, in a highly impassioned manner, complained about the lack of progress on the Austrian treaty at the CFM. He stated that if nothing more were [Page 761] done about the treaty the political situation in Austria would assume critical proportions. Dr. Gruber’s argument was that the basic requirement is the withdrawal of the occupation forces and the establishment of national control by the Austrian Government over its independent life. A continuation of military occupation, in his view, will inevitably lead to the imposition by the Soviets of such measures as the recent licensing system for goods exported from eastern Austria. Dr. Gruber stated that this amounts, in effect, to a partition of Austria and that such a development must be prevented at all costs.
He stated that he was prepared to tell the Austrian people that military occupation will continue provided he knows why it will continue and what hope might be held for a future settlement. He stated that the withdrawal of forces prior to the conclusion of the treaty would be acceptable to him since the Austrians could take care of any possible Yugoslav threat and could deal with the USIVA firms in eastern Austria.
When asked for specific recommendations as to what might be done at this session of the CFM, Dr. Gruber proposed the following:
- 1.
- A secret session of the CFM to discuss the Austrian treaty and to obtain from the Soviets a definite proposal for settlement on the German assets question.
- 2.
- A special meeting of the CFM devoted entirely to the Austrian question in order that it may be decided on its merits rather than in relation to German policy.
- 3.
- A tripartite announcement of a conditional renunciation of claims to the assets in the western zones which could be published at the termination of this session.
At this point he did not specifically recommend that an offer be made to withdraw occupation forces pending the conclusion of a treaty. Dr. Gruber believed that such a program could be popularized in Austria since it would give the Austrian people hope that the western states are interested in them specifically and that the western policy of pushing for a treaty settlement will be carried out to its logical conclusion.
Throughout the conversation Dr. Gruber did not specifically state that a bilateral settlement would be sought with the Soviets on the German assets question, but the entire tenor of his remarks indicated that he is again considering this possibility in the event of a failure either to get a treaty or some concrete proposal for a further consideration of the Austrian question.