Office of the Historian
No. 627

800.062–WFTU/4–2451: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Legation in Austria 1

secret
Washington, April 26, 1951—7 p.m.

2264. Dept considering nature action which can be taken here (Legtel 2450 April 242) control travel US citizens who may wish proceed abroad to serve with WFTU. Suggest you coordinate with Brit and Fr colleagues Vienna with view adoption tripartite position concerning measures it may be feasible take secure removal WFTU hdqrs or failing that to block Western participation WFTU activities Austria. Paris and London requested inform FonOffs and seek their views as to further action which may appropriately be taken, having in mind fact that Saillant, Secy WFTU, is Fr national.3

Acheson
  1. Drafted by Allen (EUR/WE) and approved for transmission by Williamson (EUR/WE) who also signed for the Secretary.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. The presence of the WFTU headquarters in Vienna was taken up at meetings of the Political Directorate of the Allied Commission for Austria on May 15, of the Executive Committee of the Allied Commission on May 18, and of the Allied Council for Austria on May 25. At those meetings, the U.S. and U.K. representatives, supported by the French representatives, proposed an inquiry into the manner and authorization for the establishment of the WFTU headquarters in Vienna. The Soviet representatives at these meetings were opposed to such an inquiry and insisted that the WFTU, as an international democratic organization, had every reason to be in Vienna. After a long discussion, the Allied Council dropped the matter in disagreement. Despatch 1432 from Vienna, June 26, transmitted a complete account of these meetings. (800.062–WFTU/6–2651)↩