Office of the Historian

663.001/1–1253

No. 842
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Perkins) to the Secretary of State1

secret
[Washington,] January 12, 1953.

Subject:

  • Austrian Treaty

As you are aware, despite the Four Power commitment in the Moscow Declaration of 1943 to restore Austria’s independence, Austria is still occupied by U.S., U.K., French and Soviet troops. We, together with the British and French, have been endeavoring since [Page 1826] 1946 to conclude an Austrian treaty, but without success because of Soviet intransigence. In view of the failure to agree upon the terms of a State Treaty, the Western Powers proposed to the Soviets, on March 13, 1952, an abbreviated treaty consisting only of the essentials required for the restoration of Austria’s independence.2 In an exchange of notes the Soviets refused to consider this abbreviated treaty, despite our offer to amend it to meet their specific objections, and raised again, as they have for the past several years, the extraneous issues of Trieste, demilitarization and denazification.

The Austrian question was subsequently placed on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly by Brazil.3 UNGA adopted a resolution on December 20, 1952, by a vote of 48–0 with the Soviet bloc and two other nations abstaining, appealing to the Governments of the four occupying Powers to make a renewed and urgent effort to reach agreement on the terms of an Austrian treaty with a view to an early termination of the occupation.

Following adoption of the UNGA resolution, agreement has been reached with the British and French, with the concurrence of the Austrian Government, for the transmission to the Soviet Government of notes by the U.S., U.K. and France, suggesting an early meeting of the Austrian Treaty Deputies in London. These notes were delivered in Moscow on January 12.4 The Austrian Treaty Deputies have not met since December, 1950. Formal invitations will be issued on January 14, through the Secretariat General of the Austrian Treaty Deputies, to a meeting of the four Deputies in London on January 30.

Samuel Reber, Jr. served as U.S. Deputy for the Austrian treaty negotiations during the period of the most recent active negotiations in 1949–1950. He is no longer available for this assignment because of his pressing duties as Acting U.S. High Commissioner in Germany. It is anticipated that Walter C. Dowling, Counselor of Embassy and Deputy U.S. High Commissioner in Vienna, will be recommended for assignment as U.S. Deputy for the current negotiations, if the Soviets agree to attend the proposed meeting. Mr. Dowling is a career Foreign Service Officer (FSO–1) and is considered the best qualified officer for this assignment.

  1. Drafted by E. P. Allen and cleared by Collins, Byington, and Bonbright. A handwritten notation on the source text indicates that the new Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, saw this memorandum.↩
  2. Regarding this note, see Document 794.↩
  3. Regarding the U.N. resolution on the Austrian Treaty, see Document 840.↩
  4. Regarding these notes, see the editorial Note, infra.↩