763.0221/10–2451: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Austria ( Donnelly) to the Secretary of State 1
1475. Legtel 1169 Sept 28 Legtel 1354 Oct 13.2 Re further tactics for meeting Sov charges in AC on remilitarization in Aust West HICOMs agreed at meeting Oct 23 that any plan for investigation commissions should be killed at subsequent AC level without giving Sov propaganda advantage.
West HICOMs are committed in principle to investigating commission by their taking up Sov challenge at AC meeting of Sept 28 present text of Sov draft resolutions unacceptable as prejudging question remilitarization in West zones. Accordingly at forthcoming meetings of military and economic directorates, Sov element will be invited to state specifically what objects it wishes commission to investigate. West deputies will then present exhaustive list of USIA and military establishments in Sov’s zone which we wish to investigate, and will offer alternative resolution applicable to remilitarization in Sov Zone as well as other parts Aust. This alternative resolution will offer little chance agreement at directorate or EXCO level and question will consequently reappear before AC Nov 9 or Nov 23. At that point West HICOMs will confirm fact that after thorough discussion of problem in AC machinery it has been impossible to obtain agreement on investigating commission, and that Sov unable present any conclusive evidence of remilitarization in West.
Until question appears again in AC, Sovs will be able to point to pending investigation of remilitarization in Aust in substantiation of charges they might bring in deputies discussion of treaty. West elements will therefore press the issues so that it will be brought before the AC at the earliest possible opportunity (Nov 9 or Nov 23). Once question has reached AC again, West treaty deputies will be able to state that charges of remilitarization were thoroughly investigated and discussed in Allied Commission machinery where Sovs unable substantiate charges and question disposed of.