Office of the Historian

663.001/8–1853: Telegram

No. 883
The United States High Commissioner for Austria (Thompson) to the Department of State1

secret
priority
Vienna, August 18, 1953—1 p.m.

431. Gruber informed UK and French Chargés and myself this morning that in addition to presenting draft Austrian reply to parliamentary committee Cabinet this morning had also decided to present draft note to four powers requesting Austrian participation in future treaty negotiations. I asked that we see the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor immediately which was arranged. I pointed out that at our last meeting with Chancellor2 we had specifically asked whether he wished to pursue this suggestion and that he had indicated he did not. On this assumption we had prepared our notes3 and Austrian Government was now taking action without giving us opportunity to comment. I also pointed out that proposed action might furnish excuse to Soviets for further delay. I also noted that should Austrians be present at next meeting Soviets could begin by pressing them for their attitude on long draft and could exploit to their advantage any answer Austrians could make. I argued it was surely better to carry out purpose of our notes, [Page 1882] namely to force Russians to conference table and make them take a position.

Raab and Schaerf said a new element in the situation was last Soviet note4 on Germany which appeared to envisage German participation. They did not think Parliament could be prevented from expressing itself in this sense and were afraid that VDU members or others might present matter in a manner which would embarrass government and possibly be more difficult for us. In effort to meet my objections they agreed that two government parties would endeavor in Parliamentary committee to handle matter in such way as to result in request from committee that government explore possibilities of Austrian participation in future negotiations. This would at least give us some opportunity to comment and not provide Russians with excuse for not coming to London.

Initiative for this move appears to come chiefly from Socialists but both Raab and Schaerf felt government must be prepared to assume its responsibilities with respect to treaty and that they could not ignore clear wish of the Parliament.

Thompson
  1. Repeated to London, Paris, and Moscow.↩
  2. For a record of this meeting, see telegram 282, Document 879.↩
  3. A reference to the U.S. note to the Soviet Government on Aug. 17; see the Editorial Note, supra.↩
  4. Document 264.↩