763.0221/10–2354: Telegram
No. 937
The Secretary of
State to the Department of
State1
Dulte 14. Limited distribution. General Gruenther and I spoke to Eden and Macmillan with reference to the Trieste troops. They said it was entirely out of the question that their troops from Trieste should be sent back to Austria. They had been promised that they would be brought home, and that promise would have to be [Page 1978] carried out. If any troops were to be sent, they would have to be found elsewhere. Gruenther urged that they should try to find at least a battalion to hold the passes, saying that he understood the US would then send at least two battalions to reinforce our Austrian sector with a mission to join the British at the passes in the British Zone if trouble broke out.
Macmillan said that there was no place left for the British to stay, as their barracks had all been turned over to the Austrians. However, he would look into the matter.
My impression is that the odds are strongly against their sending any more troops into Austria.
- Repeated to London eyes only for the Ambassador in telegram 2372 of Oct. 27. (763.0221/10–2354)↩