740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–3049: Telegram

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

top secret

2251.1 Audel 63 for Reber. Gen Keyes advises Brit High Comm states his Govt questions advisability proceeding with plan Deptel 2032 June 142 for Aust gendarmerie on grounds action would affect Treaty negots.3 Brit High Comm requested to reexamine problem and submit recommendations to his Govt. US and Fr High Comms consider that implementation of plans shld be carried out without delay. Aust Govt concurs. US and Fr are prepared to initiate program in respective zones about July 15 regardless of Brit participation.

Pls discuss this question with FonOff in effort obtain Brit concurrence. We see no reason why plan shld not be carried out as originally conceived. Brit High Comm hopes appropriate instrs will be transmitted from London to enable participation. Delay to Sept 1 will in our opinion adversely affect Western security interests.4

Acheson
  1. Repeated to Paris as 2356 and Vienna as 656.
  2. Not printed, but see footnote 4 to telegram P 3459, p. 1242.
  3. General Keyes’ report to this effect was transmitted in telegram P–3541, June 29, from Vienna, not printed (863.105/6–2949).
  4. In Delau 138, July 6, from London, not printed, Reber reported that Bevin had agreed to send instructions to the British High Commissioner, enabling him to participate in the plan for equipping the Austrian Gendarmerie (740.00119 Council/7–649).