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

663.001/2–953: Telegram

No. 847
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

London, February 9, 1953—8 p.m.

4399. From Dowling. Treaty deputies met three and one-half hours this afternoon² with Gromyko maintaining his demand that abbreviated treaty be withdrawn before other questions discussed.

In accordance with agreement reached by west deputies this morning, tactics outlined Embtel 4379, February 7³ were followed. After firm statements by west deputies and reiteration his position by Gromyko, offer contained reftel was made by US representative and accepted by UK and French deputies. Gromyko again insisted on withdrawal of short treaty whereupon French chairman attempted to draw him out on discussion of long draft. He met all queries with statement that only after withdrawal of abbreviated treaty could “other matters related to Austrian question” be discussed. He refused to give any further clarification of his position despite French chairman’s reminder that west powers had been met with Soviet insistence on extraneous issues in past and it appeared that Soviets were still not prepared to discuss treaty itself.

At this stage, it was obvious that further meetings could have no useful purpose and western deputies thereupon made their statements charging Soviet obstruction, and saying they must report to their governments, but reiterating willingness to accept any treaty adequate to ensure Austrian independence and freedom from foreign domination as well as their readiness to discuss any and all matters conducive to speedy conclusion of treaty. French chairman thereupon proposed adjournment of meeting with suggestion that next session be called by British chairman at his discretion in few weeks time which would allow Soviet deputy consult his government. This last was agreed upon at western deputies meeting this morning in deference to Austrian Government’s views as expressed by Gruber and also as means of maintaining pressure on Soviets.

Western deputies will meet tomorrow morning to consider future courses of action as suggested Deptel 5271, February 8.⁴

Holmes

1. Repeated to Paris, Vienna, and Moscow.
2. The meeting summarized in this telegram was the 260th meeting session of the Austrian Treaty Deputies. Regarding the earlier meetings, see footnote 2, supra.
3. Telegram 4379 reported on the meeting of the three Western Deputies held on Saturday, Feb. 7, and summarized the tactics to be employed by them during their meeting with the Soviet Deputy on Feb. 9. The agreed tactics were as follows: a firm statement of the Western position, including the charge that the Soviets were again obstructing serious negotiations; an offer by the French Deputy, serving as Chairman, to withdraw the abbreviated treaty if an equitable treaty on any other basis could be concluded without further delay; and, if as expected the Soviet Deputy reiterated his demand that the abbreviated treaty be withdrawn, the Western Deputies would repeat their charge of Soviet obstructionism and conclude the meetings by saying they must report to their governments. (663.001/2–753)
4. Telegram 5271 instructed the Western Deputies to continue to meet, if the Soviet Deputy walked out of the meeting as expected, for the purpose of drafting recommendations concerning future action on the Austrian Treaty. (663.001/2–753)