Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

663.001/9–2952: Telegram

No. 819
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

London, September 29, 1952—3 p.m.

1817. From Reber. Three Western Deputies for Austrian treaty met today and in absence of any acceptance of invitation from Soviet Embassy, agreed to make following recommendations to their governments.

The Deputies agreed not to have exchange of communications with Soviet Embassy similar to procedure followed in January. The conditions laid down in Soviet note transmitted in Moscow’s 578 Sept 28² cannot be accepted as basis for discussion. Agreed that Soviet note must be answered, but delivery should be timed to take place shortly before opening of UN. Content of notes should serve to strengthen Austrian case and Western replies in UN debate. Agreed that reply should be drafted in London and communicated to governments for approval. Question of timing as proposed above, as well as final draft of notes should be approved by Austrian Government.

Recommend that note refer to delays occasioned by procedure of constant addition of new conditions by their notes rather than continuing to meet. Note should specifically ask Soviet Government exactly what they mean by continued reference to Potsdam. We consider that we can narrow down Soviet reply to a demand for German assets. Do they make discussion of Trieste prior condition to negotiating any settlement for Austria? Does their note mean that denazification and demilitarization must be carried out on Soviet terms which have not been accepted by three governments or by Austrian Govt? Care must be taken not to imply in note that we are either withdrawing abbreviated text or committing ourselves to a discussion of the old draft.

Guidance along the following lines is being given to the press here today: Deputies were ready to meet and talk today. For second time, Soviets have failed to appear and instead have sent a note which means further unnecessary delay in consideration of treaty. Not only have Soviets rejected constructive proposals of the Western powers, even as modified to meet Soviet views, but latter still pose prior conditions in order to avoid discussions of treaty and now say it is impossible even to examine the treaty without bringing in extraneous issue of Trieste. Conclusion is inescapable that Soviets are not yet prepared to accept any treaty with Austria. For seven years they have exploited their position in Eastern Austria for their own purposes and for their own economic benefit. Reply to Soviet note will now have to be considered by three governments.

No formal statement or communiqué will be issued, but similar guidance is being given to papers by British and French.

Gifford

1. Repeated to Vienna, Paris, Bonn, and Moscow.
2. Telegram 578 transmitted the text of the Soviet note of Sept. 27 in which the Soviet Government reiterated its demand that the abbreviated treaty be withdrawn before any further discussion of the Austrian Treaty could take place. (663.001/9–2852) For the Soviet note, see Documents (R.I.I.A.) for 1953, pp. 140–141.