863.20/7–1549: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Legation in Austria
786.1 Ref P 3602 July 152 and preceding msgs on this subject, all plans for equipping future Aust Army are based on assumption that US funds can be made available for procurement necessary supplies. Steps are now being considered in this regard and subsequent msg will be dispatched.
Agreement exists in Dept and Dept Army that in terms immed objective connected with treaty Aust Army shld be organized and equipped in such manner as to carry out effectively task of maintaining internal security. This wld require, in addition to police, a mobile mil force able to impose martial law in event of disorder and to prevent entry of foreign action groups interested in fomenting internal disorder.3 Detailed logistic plans are now being considered in Dept Army.
In surveying problem of implementation, Dept considers that, aside from problem of funds and logistic difficulties, three basic steps are necessary in dipl field:
- a.
- Firm tripartite agreement should exist on all aspects of program [Page 1247] and Brit and Fr shld ack[nowledge] joint responsibility with US in implementation of program since they have agreed in principle that maintenance of security is a major issue involved in conclusion of treaty. This question will be brought to attention of Brit and Fr govts with request that all steps in this regard be fully coordinated and with reminder that joint responsibility involves physical contribution by each West power to extent possible.
- b.
- Austs shld realize that maintenance internal security is their basic responsibility in which West states will assist in all feasible ways. Consequently agreement must be reached quickly in Aus on fundamental question of org of army in order that Govt may assume its responsibilities immed on withdrawal of occupation forces. Question of org of Army must not be subject of Aust partisan politics as this question affects both parties equally. Resolution of problem involves forthright action on part of Aust party leaders and a firm govt decision concerning type, character and purpose of future army. It will be necessary for Aust to subordinate party interests on this question to larger interest of their own natl security. In order to stress urgency of this situation, we are despatching instrs to London and Paris to request appropriate instrs to Brit and Fr High Commissions to join Gen Keyes in tripartite representations to Aust govt to effect that agreement be reached now on plan to be submitted on org of army.4 We do not consider that any possible available funds can be allocated until Aust Govt has submitted satisfactory plan agreed by both parties. Delay in this regard would involve corresponding delay in implementation of treaty.
- c.
- Four-power approval to begin implementation of mil clauses prior to coming into force of treaty. Brit and Fr recommendations have been requested on this question. We do not consider that approach to Sovs shld be made at least until mil clauses in treaty are finally agreed. At that time decision on action to be taken and channels to be used will be taken on tripartite level after surveying situation.
- Repeated to London as 2587 and Paris as 2697.↩
- Not printed; it reported the outline of the Socialist Party plan for future Austrian Army (863.20/7–1549). Regarding the Austrian Government’s plan for the army, see telegram P 3666, July 30, p. 1250.↩
- At this point in the source text the Acting Chief of the Division of Austrian Affairs, Williamson, had deleted the following sentence: “Preliminary plans indicate that two divisions wld suffice to assure objective.”↩
- This was done in telegram 2586 (Audel 98), July 25, to London (repeated to Paris as 2696), not printed (863.20/7–2549).↩