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

663.001/7–1050: Telegram

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

secret

London, July 10, 1950—7 p. m.

208. Delau 479. As anticipated, no progress made 256th meeting of Austrian deputies today.¹ In opening statement as chairman, Berthelot reviewed position taken by west deputies at last meeting and obstacles raised by Soviet to consideration unagreed articles. US and UK deputies reiterated desire their governments to conclude treaty as rapidly as possible and willingness to proceed with examination of all agreed articles providing Soviet representative would assure them that such a procedure would in fact result in completion treaty.

Zarubin then read long statement which substantially paraphrased Soviet notes April 20 and July 8² re Trieste. US delegate replied that Trieste question has nothing whatsoever to do with work Austrian delegates, hence injection of this issue could only be viewed as further pretext to hold up work on Austrian treaty. UK deputy concurred in “complete irrelevancy” Trieste question to matter at hand.

Soviet representative asserted statements made by west deputies reflected positions of their governments in evading replies to proposals made by Soviet in April 20 note. It had been made factually clear in note that west governments violating international obligations under Italian treaty, not only having established “police state” in Trieste but also turned it into naval base. Such violations in Soviet view have direct connection with draft Austrian treaty for actions taken by west powers re Italian treaty give no assurance that they would implement an Austrian treaty. Hence, Soviet requires assurance that west powers will put an end to violations of Italian treaty. In circumstances therefore west government solely responsible for holding up Austrian treaty.

In subsequent discussion Zarubin proposed deputies should proceed with consideration unagreed articles beginning with Soviet proposed amendment to Article 9, but refused to give assurance that such procedure including west deputies offer to accept Soviet text Article 48 bis would result in conclusion treaty. In view impasse French deputy suggested meeting adjourn until September 7. US and UK deputies agreed but Zarubin said he would have to refer to his government this “proposal for further delay on work of deputies”. Its views, he concluded, would be communicated to SYG.³

Sent Department 208, repeated information Vienna 10, Paris 66, Moscow 16, Frankfort 34, for Reber.⁴

1. The United States Delegation minutes of this meeting are in CFM Files, Lot M–88, Box 117, USDel Mins.
2. For the text of the July 8 Soviet note on Trieste to the Governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and France, see Margaret Carlyle, ed., Documents on International Affairs, 1949–1950 (London, Oxford University Press, 1953), pp. 519–521.
3. On July 17 Embassy London reported a telephone message from Zarubin in which the Soviet Delegate took notice of the desire of the Western Deputies to adjourn until September 7. Representatives of the Foreign Office, French Embassy, and United States Embassy interpreted this to mean that Zarubin would attend the meeting on September 7. (Telegram 340, July 17, from London, 633.001/7–1750).
4. Reber had returned to Frankfort after the 256th meeting to resume his duties as Counselor of Mission.