740.00119 Control (Austria)/3–1848: Telegram
The Minister in Austria (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State
urgent
niact
332. General Keyes has from time to time since May 1947 and more often since early February 1948 in accordance with his understanding of his directive to reestablish an independent Austria, been (a) discussing with General Galloway the British High Commissioner distribution to Austrian police of arms held by British and (b) considering with Generals Galloway, Béthouart and Austrian authorities best means of initiating plans for the Austrian Army (reDeptel 242, March 16).1
As reported in USFA telegram P–1426, March 17,2 Galloway with Foreign Office approval last week turned over substantial quantities of rifles, pistols and ammunition to Austrian police in British zone. At request of Austrian Minister of Interior he did not inform AC of this action and its meeting March 12 as he had originally intended. As Department is aware question of distribution of these arms has been repeatedly discussed in AC and reported to Washington since April 1946 when AC first decided on distribution to Austrian police, a decision implementation of which has been blocked by Soviets. Most recent discussions in AC were May 20, June 13 and August 29 of last year.
[Page 1361]General Galloway is prepared to make available to US elements similar quantities of these arms which General Keyes will distribute to Austrian police at appropriate moment. British have sufficient arms of this kind to equip police of all Austria. USFA is, however, since such arms may not prove adequate to meet the situation, studying further question of supplying police with machine guns and automatic weapons.
As to plans for organization of Austrian Army, tripartite military authorities here have agreed that seeking permission of AC would inevitably encounter Soviet veto and would be useless. Present opinion here is that Austrians should simply proceed with planning on their own initiative, question still under discussion being whether they should formally notify AC of their action or should keep matter quiet. This problem is obviously not of same degree of urgency as that of arming police, which in light of recent reliable reports of arming of Communist workers at Zistersdorf (see Vienna controlled American source No. 437, March 17) is clearly of highest importance.
Legation believes these questions are being effectively handled by General Keyes with his British and French colleagues and hopes no decisions will be taken in London or Washington until High Commissioner’s views have been presented and fully considered.
Sent Department 332; repeated London USDel 63.