No. 571
663.001/10–2451: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Austria ( Donnelly) to the Secretary of State 1
secret
Vienna, October 24, 1951—8 p.m.
1476. Legtel 1383 Oct 16, rptd London 75, Paris 124, Moscow 26, Frankfort 145.2 Present status of plans re Aust treaty tactics was [Page 1159] discussed at meeting of west HICOM’s Oct 23. It is our understanding:
- (1)
- That Aust Govt through Aust Leg Washington will transmit note on Oct 27 or 293 to US as chairman requesting that deputies be reconvened at earliest opportunity. Copies of this note will be simultaneously presented to Caccia, Payart, and Koptelov in Vienna for info their govts, and released for publication Oct 30.
- (2)
- On Nov 1, without allowing time for adverse Sov comments on Aust move, US as chairman would invite other powers to new meeting of deps and propose a specific date “if agreeable”. This would permit US and shortly thereafter Brit and French to make suitable public comment on desirability of treaty and test of Sov good faith for peaceful settlement of Aust question at time World Peace Council in Vienna putting up smoke screen of Commie peace propaganda.
- (3)
- Re date to be proposed, HICOM’s agreed that London and Paris should settle this with Washington. US HICOM indicated that Nov was considered preferable by Dept, Fr HICOM intimated that latter half of Nov appears suitable so far as he was aware, but would desire to consult Paris, Brit HICOM stated he was without instructions from London except general indication that later date, preferably December, has been favored by FonOff owing to election and desirability allowing time for Trieste and Italian treaty revision.
Question of further tactics re abbreviated text, title of abbreviated text, or manner of proceeding with old text, was not discussed, since on these points HICOM’s would be guided by instructions of respective fon offices.
Donnelly