Office of the Historian

310.2/3–3154: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Mission at the United Nations1

secret
Washington, April 6, 1954—7:01 p.m.

470. Re: Austrian Membership in UN (urtel 553). Austrian Ambassador approached Department this matter April 2, stating Austria considering raising Austrian membership question and requesting our views. Department replied as follows:

1.
Austria need not submit new application since SC could reconsider Austria’s case on basis application submitted 1947. To keep Austrian application in foreground Austrians might wish submit to SYG a document for circulation UN Members referring this application and reiterating importance Austria attaches to admission.
2.
US warmly supports Austria’s membership. However would be difficult isolate Austria’s case in SC since other candidates would expect action on their applications too and since USSR could be expected resubmit its package proposal, which we could not accept, and Soviets would argue this proposal offered only solution. We therefore doubt successful outcome if Austrian application now reconsidered in SC. Assembly appointed Good Offices Committee to try break deadlock but we are not very hopeful about results.

Ambassador said Hammarskjold, while not optimistic, seemed indicate to Austrian UN Observer there might be some slight hope for Austria’s admission. However Ambassador said he personally agreed our estimate of situation and said he would report our views to Austrian Government including our suggestion Austria might submit document along lines mentioned above. We are under impression Austrians chiefly interested in getting on record their continued desire UN membership but do not necessarily expect SC action at this time.

In subsequent conversation Gruber same date reference was made to Austrian Government’s proposal (Vienna’s 2468)2 that question UN membership be considered by Five Power Commission Vienna. He took general view question should not be raised Vienna where Soviets could veto before it came to attention other UN Members and said he would recommend accordingly to Vienna.

Dulles
  1. Drafted by Paul W. Jones (UNP) and Edgar P. Allen of the Office of Eastern European Affairs, cleared with the Bureau of European Affairs, approved for transmission by the Acting Director of the Office of UN Political and Security Affairs (Popper) and signed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for UN Affairs (Wainhouse). Repeated for information to Vienna (telegram 2953); repeated on Apr. 7 to Paris, London, and Moscow by air pouch.↩
  2. Not printed.↩