663.001/9–2851: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Gifford) to the Secretary of State 1
1565. 1. In accordance instrs contained Deptel 1680, Sept 26 (sent Paris 1803, Vienna 780, Moscow unnumbered, Frankfort unnumbered)2 EmbOff met with Harrison, Allen and Minford FonOff today to seek Brit agreement on US draft abbreviated treaty for Aust. Harrison said instrs sent Sept 22 to Brit Emb Wash setting forth FonOff’s views on subj for communication Dept, and after reading pertinent sections of message asked Allen to give fol elaboration Brit position.
2. FonOff not inclined favor use US draft for present because:
- (a)
- Belief that Austs do not desire this new step. This based on report by Caccia of conversation with Gruber in which latter had expressed misgivings re abbreviated treaty, which had presumably been discussed with him informally by Amer Leg Vienna, on grounds that there was practically no chance Sov acceptance.
- (b)
- From propaganda standpoint Sov reaction might be that we were tearing up “already existing agreements” on other articles of present treaty.
- (c)
- Main objective was to get treaty signed and Brit do not feel abbreviated draft wld get us any further ahead.
3. Reiterating that aim was to get Sovs out of Aust as quickly as possible, Harrison suggested fol procedure:
- (a)
- Allow month or so to elapse to see if Trieste and Ital treaty questions can be resolved.
- (b)
- Full consultation by West HICOM in Vienna with Aust Govt to determine latter’s wishes. (Throughout conversation FonOff reps laid great stress on necessity proceeding only with approval of Austs; Harrison said they believed reaction in Aust was more important than cold-war or propaganda aspects.)
- (c)
- Call meeting of treaty deputies to see if Sov position has changed since December. If Sovs wld consent not reopen any agreed articles, FonOff wld accept Sov version of recent four disagreed articles in order to get treaty. Also if this sole remaining point at issue, Brit wld accept Sov amendment Art Nine.
- (d)
- In event Sovs prove as intransigent as ever, consideration shld then be given to introduction of abbreviated US draft.
4. Emphasizing he not yet instructed on procedure Dept intends propose, EmbOff asked whether procedure suggested by Harrison might not be telescoped into short period once deputies were in session, i.e., short adjournment of two or three days if Sovs prove adamant O.K. former disputed points or dwell on extraneous issues, and then further meeting at which new draft cld be introduced. FonOff reps thought this procedure merited consideration. Wld appreciate Dept’s views.
5. Agreed that further discussion wld await outcome Brit Emb’s approach to Dept.