740.00119 Council/3–1449: Telegram

The United States Deputy for Austria at the Council of Foreign Ministers (Reber) to the Secretary of State

secret

962. Delau 53. Our efforts to keep pressure on Soviets to force some indication of how frontiers and reparations issue may be settled has today resulted in Zarubin taking initiative in seeking bring about direct negotiations between Austria and Yugoslavia on outstanding issues. He sent for both Bebler and Gruber today and, according to latter, urged that two undertake direct conversation while deputies are considering other articles.

Further at close of today’s meeting1 Zarubin indicated to me privately it would be very difficult to settle the matter of Yugoslav claims without prior discussion of other articles. When I pressed him for indication whether he thought there was any solution possible for Articles 5 and 34 he said he thought something could be achieved. I explained it would be exceedingly difficult for me to agree to other economic articles of treaty particularly when important issue on reparations was still outstanding. As my talk with Zarubin was in committee room at close of today’s meeting, I suggested we meet again tomorrow afternoon for a more considered talk about questions outstanding between us.2

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Although this is first time Zarubin has taken initiative for any direct negotiation with any of Deputies it may only be that he is endeavoring to ease his present situation and may have little significance in ultimate determination of Soviet objectives. In these circumstances we feel it is better to keep pressure on him and only to agree to consideration of other articles if he can give some positive indication that an eventual solution of frontiers and reparations will be found in accordance with principles to which Western Deputies subscribe. I have discussed foregoing with my French and British colleagues who are in agreement as to tactics to be followed and danger of merely agreeing to discussion of other issues without some progress having been registered.

Berthelot informs me of general desire of French Government to continue negotiations.

Sent Department, repeated Vienna 55, Belgrade 5.

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Reber
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  1. The 133rd meeting of the Deputies.
  2. In Delaus 55, March 15, from London, not printed, Reber reported that at his meeting with Zarubin on the 15th the Soviet Deputy had stressed the need to pass to the other unagreed articles and seemed to desire extending the talks indefinitely. Reber had then discussed this meeting with the other two Western Deputies who agreed not to pass immediately to the other unagreed articles without some discussion concerning the solution of the frontier and reparations questions. (740.00119 Council/3–1549)