740.00119 Control (Austria)/6–1748: Telegram
The Minister in Austria (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State
764. British here under instructions from Foreign Office re taking line with Austrians that latter should be cautious in dealing with Soviets at this time and should avoid “provocation” which might induce Soviets to retaliate against Austrian Government or western representatives here. British Minister spoke to me and British First Secretary spoke to counselor yesterday in this sense and said they had impression Gruber is leading his colleagues in government into rather dangerous campaign of pillorying Soviets by barrage of protest notes and public statements. British fear this may further “isolate” Soviets or may cause them to abandon quadripartite cooperation and resort here to tactics being pursued in Berlin. British Minister is seeing Gruber on this subject today.
Gruber had received advance notice of this British attitude and spoke to us yesterday about it with some concern. He expressed view that Soviet policy toward Austria is decided in Moscow in light of over-all situation and that their basic decisions would not be substantially affected by behavior of Austrian Government and western representatives here, except that signs of weakness or uncertainty on part of either of latter might cause Soviets to miscalculate firmness of Austrian attachment to west and to take aggressive action in mistaken belief there would be no serious repercussions. He therefore felt it of utmost importance that Austrian Government and western representatives here show firm front to Soviets in order that latter might be under no illusions as to nature or resistance that would be offered to aggressive action on their part. He expressed hope that if Department concurs in this view it might find some opportunity to dissuade British from what he considers their dangerously overcautious attitude.
While recognizing that Gruber’s policy of reacting firmly and sharply to each instance of Soviet pressure involves certain dangers [Page 1425] and that occasionally an Austrian Minister may be unnecessarily provocative (i.e. Migsch speech, Legtel 760 June 161), we consider Gruber’s analysis of situation to be sounder and more realistic than that of British. Moreover it is obviously confusing and somewhat disheartening to Austrian Ministers who are Showing considerable courage in a very exposed situation, when British and also French (ReLegtel 703 June 32) blow hot and cold in regard to their attitude toward Soviets in Austria. If Department perceives no objection we shall take this line in our conversations with British and French political representatives here.
Sent Department 764; repeated London as 172 Paris as 82.