No. 593

763.5/1–451: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State 2

top secret

3786. Dowling’s presence in Paris for meeting on Austrian occupation costs has afforded opportunity for renewed discussion at Foreign Office re Austrian army. We informed Sauvagnargues that British are sending agreed directive to Caccia (London’s 3649 to Department December 29).3 Discussion of proposed tripartite action disclosed that Foreign Office had apparently not been informed by French HICOM of precise nature proposed security precautions [Page 1188] worked out in Vienna nor of limited scope of preparatory work to be required from Austrians.

Sauvagnargues detailed French objections to tripartite action at this time, which fall into three categories: Foreign Office (a) unconvinced need for preparatory work at this time in view Soviet intransigence re Austrian treaty; (b) fear giving grounds for Soviet suspicion at time deemed especially delicate in view possibility of CFM in near future;4 (c) consider obstacles to expeditious completion of preparations on Austrian side are chiefly political, involving differences between People’s Party and Socialists which could not be solved without compromising security.

Dowling pointed out nature of proposed security precautions, necessity for legal technical groundwork being laid, and explained that tripartite action as contemplated would preclude discussion of political aspects at this time. Moreover, even possibility of CFM merely points up need to be prepared contingency of Soviet about-face re Austria. Discussion appeared to narrow down French objections to the second one stated above, i.e. fear of arousing Soviet suspicions on possible eve of CFM, and it became evident that misgivings on those grounds were not confined to working level of Ministry but apparently conform to pattern of French policy on other matters as well. Sauvagnargues indicated Foreign Office now preparing formal reply to our aide-mémoire of October 16 (Embtel 2063, October 17)5 and that reply will suggest holding contemplated tripartite action in abeyance for time being.

Sauvagnargues hinted at disagreement on this subject between Foreign Office and French Defense Ministry which apparently is pressing for security precautions in Austria which would transcend those which we propose in contemplation of possible treaty and which would quite likely give grounds to the kind of Soviet suspicions which Foreign Office deprecates.

Bruce
  1. Repeated to London and Vienna.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Plans were underway for Four-Power Exploratory Talks in Paris which were intended to prepare agenda for a possible meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers. See Document 534.
  4. Not printed.