Office of the Historian

740.00119 Council/3–847: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, in Moscow

top secret
Washington, March 8, 1947—4 p. m.

427. Secdel No. 1311. For the Secretary from Acheson. Vandenberg called me today and put up to me a suggestion that he propose ratification of the four peace treaties now pending be withheld until a treaty with Austria is signed. He pointed out that while the treaties called for withdrawal of military forces from the countries concerned, they recognize the right of USSR to have some troops to maintain lines of communication to Austria, with the exercise of this right pretty much to Russia’s interpretation. Vandenberg said that he believed that his proposal that ratification of the treaties be withheld until treaty with Austria is concluded would strengthen your hand and might be instrumental in at least producing an Austrian treaty out of Moscow Conference.1

I told Vandenberg that I would have this matter considered in the Department, consult you by telegraph and try to let him have our ideas by early next week.2

It seems to us here that this proposal is inadvisable for the following reasons:

1.
Since these treaties and the Austrian settlement were discussed in Paris and we agreed to go ahead with the treaties without awaiting Austrian settlement, it would open us to charges of bad faith.
2.
It would not result in better settlements than those provided for in existing treaties but would merely prolong uncertainty and continue for an indefinite period right of USSR to maintain military forces in larger numbers than would be possible under the treaties.
3.
The bargaining power of the proposal is probably insufficient to accomplish the desired objective.
4.
It would facilitate what may be Soviet tactics anyway; i.e., to make conclusion of Austrian treaty contingent upon German settlement satisfactory to USSR.

May I have your views urgently in order that I can reply to Vandenberg.3

I understand that in normal course of events, hearings on treaties will continue for another two or three weeks.

Acheson
  1. See vol. ii, p. 139 ff.↩
  2. Mr. Acheson recorded his telephone conversation with Senator Vandenberg in a memorandum of March 8 to Mr. Hickerson (740.0011 EW (Peace)/3–847).↩
  3. In telegram No. 731, March 9, 1947, from Moscow, not printed, Secretary Marshall replied: “We are unanimous in our complete agreement with Dept’s views expressed in Secdel 1311 and I personally urgently desire ratification of treaties without delay.” (740.00119 (Council)/3–947)↩