740.00119 Council/5–1948: Telegram
The United States Deputy for Austria at the Council of Foreign Ministers (Reber) to the Secretary of State
2168. Delsec 1745. From Reber. As chairman of the next meeting I called on Soviet Deputy today to endeavor to ascertain whether the Soviet Government was prepared to continue the discussions of the Austrian treaty on a basis which gave hope for settlement, stating that I had a certain responsibility to the other delegates. I asked whether his government was in a position to inform us whether it had any new proposals to make on the subject of Austria’s frontiers and reparations. Koktomov replied that the position of the Soviet delegation was well-known, that it had supported Yugoslav claims but in the interest of agreement was prepared to listen to other proposals which took these claims into account. When pressed, he stated that this should include some territorial change in favor of Yugoslavia.
He took the position that the Soviet Government had been faced with an ultimatum on part of the other powers which it could not accept but that it had no new proposals or suggestions to put forward. He made it clear however that he was not expecting new instructions and that the Soviet Government would maintain its position in respect, particularly to the frontier issue. I stated that I would, of course, inform the other delegations of this position but that I should like to make it clear that I stood ready to convene the next meeting as soon as I could be informed that [t]here was a possibility of reaching a settlement but that in order to reach this settlement it must be made clear that there could be no question of any cession of Austrian territory or payment of reparations. I pointed out that if there were any delay in receiving these assurances some time might be required to reassemble the meeting as I did not know how long delegations could remain in London. I shall consult with British and French tomorrow and report further.
Sent Department 2168, repeated Vienna 100, Vienna pass to USFA.