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

CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 152: Tripartite Conversations–Austria

Final Report of the Representatives of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States on the Conversations on Austrians Internal Security

top secret

Washington, August 11, 1950.

Doc. 6 Revision l¹

Pursuant to instructions the representatives of the Governments of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States met in Washington during the period August 3 to 11, inclusive, for the purpose of giving consideration to certain technical aspects of the problem of Austria’s internal security in the period following withdrawal of the occupation forces. The results of these conversations are summarized below:

1. The Three Delegations reaffirm the mutual concern and responsibility of their Three Governments in ensuring, with the cooperation of the Austrian Government, that there are in existence by the time Allied troops withdraw adequate security forces to maintain internal order in Austria in conformity with the existing Western policies toward Austria.

2. Until consultation and coordination with the Austrian Government is possible, plans must necessarily remain tentative and subject to adjustment, particularly by the representatives of the Three Governments in Austria. However, in order to provide for the contribution of the Three Governments toward the above objective, a beginning has been made and the current working plans previously drawn up were discussed by the Delegations with a view to providing for an Austrian Army and Air Force at the required time.

3. The basis for the work of the three Delegations as regards the Austrian Army was the over-all plan which had been drawn up by the United States representatives together with certain French proposals relating to Austrian ground forces. The United States plan in turn was based on the agreement which has been reached by the three representatives in Vienna that the initial strength of the Army should be 28,000 men. The United States Delegation communicated to the other Delegations lists of equipment required by this force.² A working party for the Army was appointed to give detailed consideration to this plan and the contribution which each Government might be able to make. The report of this working party is attached as Doc. 5, Rev. 1. The conclusions and recommendations of this report were adopted by the three Delegations. The three Delegations also recommend that the training of the gendarmerie reserves on which agreement has also been reached by the three Western representatives in Vienna should be continued as rapidly as possible.

4. As is pointed out in the conclusions of the Army Working Party, it was agreed that, for military reasons, it would be more satisfactory if the United States provided all the equipment for the Austrian ground forces. There is agreement that this equipment must be readily available at short notice so that it can be issued to the Austrian forces as soon as conditions permit. The United States plan, therefore, calls for immediate stockpiling. It is the United States view that all equipment required for the Austrian Army, including any French and British contributions which may be decided upon as a result of later review, should be stockpiled immediately. The French and British Delegations agree that there should be consultation among the Three Governments regarding the stockpiling at an appropriate time of any contributions which they may make.

5. The basis for the work of the three Delegations as regards the Austrian Air Force was the over-all plan drawn up by the British Air Ministry, a copy of which, together with information concerning equipment required by the Austrian Air Force to the extent available was communicated to each of the other Delegations.² A working party for the Air Force was appointed to give detailed consideration to this plan and the contribution which each Government might be able to make. The report of the Air Working Party is attached as Doc. 4, Rev. 1. The conclusions and the recommendations of this report were adopted by the three Delegations.

6. It was agreed that the Air Force plan is not at present in sufficient detail to determine the source from which equipment should be provided. It is recommended, therefore, that the plan for the Air Force should be accepted only as a basis for further detailed planning which should be undertaken at an appropriate time by the Three Governments. Such detailed plans when agreed upon should be kept under constant review as part of which a decision must be taken in due course as to the initiation of stockpiling.

7. The views of the respective Governments with regard to the financial aspects of the Austrian program were stated as follows:

(a) The French Government, taking into consideration the burden of its own military program, feels that the supply by France to the Austrian Government of light armament and equipment and training of Austrian military, personnel in France should not involve any additional burden on the French Treasury.

(b) The representatives of the United Kingdom reserve the position of their Government as regards the financial arrangements for the military assistance which the United Kingdom is prepared to make available to Austria. They state that, while His Majesty’s Government does not at the present time foresee the provision of military assistance without repayment to countries outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, they would be prepared to reconsider the position were Austria to become associated with that Organization at a later date.

(c) It is the position of the United States Delegation, in view of the limited financial resources of the Austrian Government and that country’s strategic position with respect to the security and defense of Western Europe, that military assistance should be on a grant basis. The United States Delegation takes note of the position of the British and French Delegations that the military assistance which might be rendered by them to the Austrian Army and Air Force depends upon the making of special financial arrangements. The United States Delegation desires to record the fact that it does not accept a position which in effect conditions military assistance by the United Kingdom and France to Austria upon completion of special financial arrangements. The United States Delegation believes that the strategic location of Austria makes it of direct importance to the defense of the North Atlantic area and that Austria’s increased ability to defend itself contributes to the preservation of the peace and security of the North Atlantic area. Therefore, the principle of self-help and mutual aid incumbent upon the signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty is clearly applicable to the furnishing of military assistance to Austria by the Governments of the Three Delegations.

8. Implementation of these plans depends on (a) close coordination among the representatives of the Three Governments in Vienna and (b) the cooperation of the Austrian Government. This involves political as well as technical considerations. The Three Delegations recommend that the Three Governments consider the despatch of instructions to the Western representatives in Vienna in accordance with the plan agreed among them, i.e., the three representatives would (1) present the general plans to the appropriate representatives of the Austrian Government and secure their agreement; (2) exert continuing pressure upon the Austrian Government (a) to obtain agreement of the leaders of the two major political parties to the proposed organization, (b) to build up the necessary gendarmerie reserve, (c) … to prepare necessary legislation, (d) … to prepare plans for the provision of funds, and (e) … to initiate and develop plans covering recruitment, training, control, pay, and so forth; and (3) otherwise concert in the implementation of the agreed plan, including the phased program therefor and the continuance of the training of the gendarmerie reserve as rapidly as possible.

9. It is agreed that there should be a continuing exchange of information concerning the progress of planning and the implementation thereof.

10. It is recomemnded that the views of the Three Governments with respect to the foregoing be communicated to each of the other Governments through diplomatic channels.

[Attachment 1]

Report of the Tripartite Army Working Party

top secret

Washington, August 10, 1950.

Doc. 5 Revision 1

1. The Army Working Party has noted the United States plan for a tentative troop basis for programming equipment for an Austrian Army, and has studied the list of equipment based thereon. It has been further noted that a tentative 28,000–man troop basis has been accepted by the three Western representatives in Vienna as a basis for an initial Austrian Army. The Army Working Party accepts the plan for the creation of the Austrian Army as accepted by the High Commissioners.

[Here follow paragraphs 2 through 4, in which were listed equipment and services that the Austrian Army would provide for the Air Force, and arms which the British and French could provide.]

Conclusions

5. It is recommended that the plan agreed upon by the three Western representatives in Vienna for the creation of an Austrian Army of an initial troop basis of 28,000 men, and the equipment lists therefor, should be approved by the Governments.

6. The United Kingdom could provide Bren Guns and Cal. .303 Rifles and the ammunition and maintenance therefor, for the Austrian Army and Air Force. The estimated cost to the United Kingdom would be approximately £250,000. The estimated reduction in the United States program would be approximately $944,600.

7. France might provide:

Binoculars

Guns, sub-machine, 7.65 mm. French

Pistols, 7.65 mm. French

Mortars, 60 mm.

Mortars, 81 mm.

including the ammunition, maintenance and replacement therefor. The estimated cost to France would be approximately 312 million francs ($900,000) not including binoculars. The estimated reduction in the United States program would be approximately $1,407,500. The estimated United States cost of the binoculars is $387,260.

8. After consideration of the provision for the Austrian Army of certain types of equipment by each of the Western powers, it was apparent that certain advantages would devolve from such a coordinated supply effort. Nevertheless it is concluded, in the light of purely military considerations, that the provision of all Austrian Army equipment by a single nation would greatly simplify the stockpiling and continuing provision of equipment for the Austrian Army as well as supply and training within the Austrian Army itself. In arriving at this conclusion particular attention was paid to the problem of ammunition and parts resupply.

9. The United States should provide all the Austrian Army requirements based on the tentative 28,000-man troop basis. The estimated cost is $74,017,681 of which $67,412,830 is for materials.

10. When the list of ground type, Army procured equipment for support of the Austrian Air Force is available, this equipment should be provided by the United States.

11. Services and supplies as agreed in paragraph 2 above should be provided the Austrian Air Force by the Austrian Army.

12. The Horsching Air Base (Camp McCauley) will be required by the United States forces until completion of phase-out by those forces at which time Horsching Air Base will be considered for planning purposes as available for the Austrian Air Force.

Recommendation

13. That the above conclusions be approved.

[Attachment 2]

Report of the Tripartite Air Force Working Party

top secret

Washington, August 9, 1950.

Doc. 4 Revision 1

The Air Force Working Party appointed to review and comment upon the British plan for the establishment of an Austrian Air Force agrees that the plan establishes general broad principles upon which an Austrian Air Force, within treaty limitations, can be built. The plan provides for a separate Air Force which would receive considerable support from the Austrian Army.

The proposed organization is balanced to provide a tactical force of three fighter squadrons backed by a training organization and an administrative flight. Further, this force would be capable of expansion should Austria at a later date be permitted a larger Air Force.

It may be considered desirable to have additional squadrons, but this could only be accomplished at the expense of the training organization. It is considered, however, that initially it would be preferable to aim at forming only three squadrons and at some later date decrease the aircraft allotted for training in order that additional squadrons may be formed. In view of this the plan establishes the following size and strength organization:

Tactical Units
1 F/FB Squadron	12 Aircraft
1 F/FB Squadron	12 Aircraft
1 TAC/R Squadron	12 Aircraft
Flying Training School
Elementary Type Trainers	11 Aircraft
Advanced Trainers	22 Aircraft
Administrative and Training	4 Aircraft
Personnel
Officers	176.
Airmen	2,000.

One of the fundamentals upon which the air force plan is based is that of support from the army. Generally, the army is charged with the responsibility for procurement of items of equipment common to both forces as well as certain services.

The Air Force Working Party in coordination with the Army Working Party have agreed that for planning purposes the Austrian Air Force will accept the following responsibilities:

(a) Road transportation

(b) Daily maintenance of airfields and buildings

(c) Guarding of crashed aircraft

(d) Supply of aviation fuel and lubricants

(e) First, second and third echelon MT repairs

(f) All signals communications within Air Force installations

(g) Airfield, ground and anti-aircraft defense

(h) Supply of common-user equipment where the Air Force is the major user

(i) The provision of personnel for the construction of Air Force communications channels outside Air Force installations

(j) The provision of Air Force personnel for the maintenance, storage, and guarding of Air Force ammunition at Army ammunition depots.

[Here follow a list of materials and services which the Austrian Army would provide for the Air Force and the logistic and administrative plans and timetables necessary for implementation.]

Conclusions

1. The plan is an adequate basis for further detailed planning but, other than for availability of aircraft and spare parts does not provide a basis for determination of the source from which these requirements can best be met.

2. Horsching (near Linz) provides an economical and adequate Air Force Base and should be available after the phase-out of United States forces.

3. The size of the transport aircraft flight is insufficient to provide any effective air transportation.

4. The plan is provisional. Protracted delays in the peace treaty and/or other commitments will require a re-evaluation of resources; therefore stockpiling is not contemplated.

5. In view of the limited size of the Austrian Armed Forces, the plan for the provision by the Austrian Army of certain common-user items and services as agreed between the two working parties is basically sound.

6. An effective Austrian Air Force will not be available at the time the treaty comes into force. For planning purposes the Austrian Air Force should be available within fifteen to eighteen months from the date the treaty is ratified.

7. Certain items of supply are not immediately available from United Kingdom sources and may entail long-term procurement from British industry. Major items include signals and radar equipment, air force mechanical transport, and major aircraft spares.

8. While the plan indicates that the Austrian Air Force will cost £2½–3 million, it is not clear whether this cost does, or does not, include provision of services and materiel by the Army.

Recommendation

That the Tripartite Working Party accept the above conclusions and take note further detailed planning and coordination are required.

1. A copy of Doc. 6, dated August 10, the first draft of the Final Report, is in CFM Files, Lot M–88, Box 152, Tripartite Conversations–Austria.
2. Not found in Department of State files.
2. Not found in Department of State files.