663.001/8–153: Telegram
No. 879
The United States High Commissioner
for Austria (Thompson) to the Department of
State1
282. Discussed Austrian Treaty question with Raab, Gruber and Helmer together this morning. Meeting will be held with three Western High Commissioners Monday or Tuesday.2 All three Austrians firmly of opinion we should now withdraw short draft and get Russians into substantive negotiations. Raab assured me Austrians had had no discussions this matter since presentation Bischoff memo3 other than Ilychev remark to Raab that Austrians had not yet replied to questions put to Austrian Ambassador by Molotov. Fully agreed concert replies. Austrians intend publish Bischoff memo in view press statements stimulated by remarks London Foreign Office spokesman. Agreed discuss text their press release with us Monday.
Raab suggested might be advisable suggest Austrian participate in further negotiations. I pointed out such participation had both advantages and disadvantages but undertook obtain Washington’s views. Helmer thought Russians would be obliged refuse or at least confine Austrian role to that of observer but that would be useful force their refusal.
I repeated request for Austrian position on substance of treaty which was promised soonest. I stated our interest was in securing treaty which would fully restore Austrian sovereignty and ensure maintenance its economic and political independence. While chiefly for Austria to decide what economic terms she could support warned that in making their calculations they should not count on US assistance and our concern that onerous treaty might be interpreted by US Senate as US undertaking pay tribute to USSR. Raab [Page 1878] indicated he was thinking in terms of some international loan such as league loans which Austria could repay.
Re neutrality Raab said important to first get Russians out then examine position of Austria. Gruber repeated he had in mind only Austrian statement non-membership in military pacts not neutralization.
I made clear had received no instructions and explained our tactics in not withdrawing short draft in advance substantive discussions. It is evident however, that our failure withdraw short draft now would place us in very difficult position with Austrians and strongly urge we do so.
- Repeated to London, Paris, Moscow, and Bonn.↩
- For a record of this meeting, see telegram 296, infra.↩
- Reference to the Austrian memorandum to the Soviet Government of June 30. See Document 872.↩