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

663.001/7–2054: Telegram

No. 932
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Austria¹

confidential

Washington, July 29, 1954—7:17 p.m.

278. Despite U.K. “second thoughts” re placing Austrian treaty item on agenda next GA (Vienna’s 164²) Department becoming increasingly convinced desirability such a move from cold war point of view in anticipation particularly difficult propaganda battle with USSR at forthcoming session. Austrian item on UN agenda would be especially desirable if as anticipated Western powers reject Soviet proposal July 24³ and if as seems possible Soviets should reject Austrian proposal for alleviation occupation burdens. This is matter on which USSR specially vulnerable and over-all Western position very strong. We anticipate intensified Soviet propaganda campaign both before and during GA in favor Molotov proposal for European collective security pact. One of most persuasive answers is that any such proposal is meaningless so long as Soviets persist in maintaining divided Germany which any such pact would perpetuate and preventing return true sovereignty to Austria. GA consideration Austrian treaty item would provide opportunity continue hammer away at this theme. Consideration Austrian treaty item would help us keep before public mind Soviet intransigence and responsibility failure Berlin conference thus helping counter Soviet claims success at Geneva.

Therefore desire explore question further with British French and subsequently with Austrians if British and French agreeable including type UN action which might be taken. Of three possibilities mentioned Deptel 310 London⁴ our present thinking is mere reaffirmation previous GA appeal would be insufficient. However any introduction UN Good Offices machinery seems undesirable. We thus inclined towards third alternative under which GA would endorse certain basic principles on which Austrian treaty should be based.

Text report to UN transmitted Vienna despatch 14⁵ under revision here and if agreeable with British and French suggest coordination revised text in Washington because UN aspects. Vienna authorized join British and French in informing Austrian Government our intention transmit report UN.

All addressees requested take necessary action.⁶

Dulles

1. Drafted by W. P. Allen and E. P. Allen, and cleared by Taylor, J. W. Jones, and Elbrick. Repeated for action to Paris and London and for information to Moscow and New York.
2. Telegram 164 reported that the British and French believed that the inscription of the Austrian item on the U.N. General Assembly agenda had more disadvantages than advantages. (668.001/7–2054)
3. For text of the Soviet note concerning matters relating to European security, see Department of State Bulletin, Sept. 20, 1954, pp. 398–401.
4. Document 930.
5. Despatch 14 transmitted to the Department of State the text of a report prepared for inscription on the agenda of the General Assembly scheduled to convene in September 1954. The text had been agreed among the U.S., British, and French Embassies in Vienna and was forwarded to their respective governments for approval. (663.001/7–654)

6. In response, the Embassy in Paris reported that the French were not sympathetic to the idea of placing the Austrian item on the U.N. General Assembly agenda. (Telegram 459, Aug. 2, 663.001/8–254) Likewise, the Embassy in London reported opposition unless the Austrians wanted it done. (Telegram 607, Aug. 4, 663.001/8–454) The three Western High Commissioners in Vienna agreed that the final decision concerning the inscription of this agenda item should be made by the Austrians. (Telegram 367, Aug. 11, 663.001/8–1154)

   After further revision of the text of the draft report by a Tripartite Working Group in Washington, the Embassy in Vienna was instructed to submit the text of the new draft to the Austrian Government for its reaction. (Instruction CA–1708, Sept. 8, 663.001/9–954) The position of the Austrian Government was one of favoring the circulation of such a report and its publication, but opposing its inscription at that time. (Telegram 745 from Vienna, Oct. 2, 663.001/10–254) After further revisions in October and early November, the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France agreed to submit a report to the United Nations on Nov. 19, 1954, concerning the Austrian Treaty negotiations. For text of this report, see Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 13, 1954, pp. 907–909. Documentation concerning the Tripartite Working Group and the drafting and revision of this report to the United Nations is in file 663.001.