Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

663.001/7–650: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Delegation for Austria at the Council of Foreign Ministers ¹

secret

Washington, July 6, 1950—8 p. m.

76, Audel 274. Delau 475.² West replies having now been sent to Sov note on Trieste it is assumed, in absence info to contrary, Sov Dep will participate July 10 mtg. Concur however in Berthelot’s plan smoke out Zarubin’s intentions prior to mtg.

Believe decision three West Deps to meet as scheduled must depend upon nature Zarubin’s reply to SYG’s communication convening mtg. If Zarubin does not reply and fails to be present for mtg Dept sees no objection to three West Depts meeting for purpose of drafting statement to press along lines suggested.³ Believe press statement, if issued, shld include mention of fact that it was impossible for Deps take any action on Treaty in absence Sov Dep, in order to make clear that we are not going ahead with Treaty without Sov participation and to avoid speculation that West plans negotiate separate Treaty. It is Dept’s further view that if developments are such as to render issuance press statement advisable, the statement shld be carefully drawn and include strong support West position and listing of Sov actions which have blocked conclusion Treaty with emphasis on failure Sov Govt to live up to its pledge made in the Moscow Declaration to reestablish Austria’s independence. It shld be borne in mind in this connection that the Aust Treaty may ultimately come before the UN for consideration and that, in such event, a statement of the nature now under consideration wld become a basic paper in the West’s documentation. Dept therefore attaches considerable importance to the statement and if time permits and if in your judgment reference of the text to the Dept prior to issuance seems desirable such a course shld be followed.

Dept agrees with you that Sov Dep if present may again attempt raise extraneous issues and possibly utilize occasion to tie-in Korean situation⁴ with previous Sov accusations re denazification, demilitarization, Trieste and our militaristic policies in Austria and elsewhere. If so you shld follow procedure heretofore adopted of refusing to admit such issues are pertinent to Treaty negotiations and, while vigorously defending US and West actions, avoid debating issues foreign to Treaty discussions. Concur in suggestion that Chairman shld rule remarks of this character out of order and insist that discussions be confined to issues relating to Aust Treaty, terminating mtg if circumstances shld be such as to make that action appropriate.

Supplementing Audel 273,⁵ Dept believes, in absence further info Sov intentions, West actions July 10 mtg shld be governed by foregoing and by following further considerations: (1) our basic objective remains conclusion Treaty on best terms obtainable; (2) continuity mtgs shld be maintained and we shld endeavor prevent break in negotiations as outlined Audel 266;⁶ (3) West shld attempt fix definite date for next mtg under formula agreed by FonMins; and (4) West shld reject any Sov attempt reopen discussion agreed arts with specific reference to earlier Sov attempt reopen Art 9 (Audel 261⁷).

Dept notes ur expression doubt advisability continuing mtgs and agrees that circumstances might require departure from paragraphs (2) and (3) formula preceding para if Sov Dep should make clear that Sov policy is to prevent transaction any Treaty business and it becomes apparent Treaty mtgs are being used exclusively for Sov propaganda purposes. Believe that any decision in this respect, however, must necessarily await developments. It is suggested therefore, if tenor of mtg is in your view such as requires departure from policy referred to in preceding para, that no decision be reached re termination mtgs without prior reference to Dept for consideration with ur recommendation and Brit and Fr views in regard thereto.

Acheson

1. Repeated to Paris as 66, Vienna as 26, and Moscow as 14.
2. Not printed.
3. The proposed statement deplored the absence of the Soviet Deputy and added that his absence gave “further evidence of unwillingness of Soviet Union to fulfill undertaking in respect conclusion Austrian Treaty.” (663.001/7–550)
4. For documentation on the North Korean invasion of South Korea, see volume vii, pp. 125 ff.
5. Not printed; it instructed Reber to proceed to London for the July 10 meeting of the Austrian Deputies. He was to be guided by the Foreign Ministers agreement on the Austrian Treaty and was given authority to schedule the next Deputies meeting in September if circumstances warranted. (663.001/6–2850)
6. Not printed; it provided that the Western Deputies “make every effort prevent break in Treaty negots … and endeavor obtain advance agreement fixed date for each mtg in order maintain continuity thereof”. (663.001/5–2450)
7. Not printed; it stated “that Deputies’ mtgs not proper forum for discussion Sov charges, that no facts before Deputies to justify reopening agreed Art 9, that AC Vienna place where such charges shld be considered.” (396.1–LO/5–450)