No. 543

396.1/7–3151: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Gifford ) to the Secretary of State 1

secret

637. Dept’s 469 [525] to Frankfort July 19.2 Minford gave us today FonOff views on possible reconvening Aust treaty deps. He said Brit dep Mallet, who is going to Belgrade as Amb, has written strong opinion against holding further treaty talks until Sovs had shown real signs willingness to make concessions. Mallet recalled months of fruitless talks in 1950 and warned against permitting hopes of Austs to rise and then disappointing them. Allen, head of Ger (and Aust) Polit Dept, had written opinion along similar lines.

Minford said he inclined to agree with Mallet’s and Allen’s arguments, adding that in his opinion FonOff’s views were similar to Reber’s (Frankfort’s 642 to Dept July 23)3 which EmbOff had informally outlined to him. Before taking final position FonOff wishes obtain Caccia’s and Aust Govt’s advice, which Minford thought wld be along lines of Gruber’s comments given in Vienna’s 362 to Dept July 27.4

Gifford
  1. Repeated to Vienna, Paris, and Frankfurt for Reber.
  2. Document 540.
  3. Document 541.
  4. Supra.