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

763.0221/11–454: Telegram

No. 939
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State¹

top secret
priority

London, November 4, 1954—11 a.m.

2205. Eyes only Secretary. Reference Embassy telegrams 2122² and 2167³ (repeated information Paris 302 and 307, Rome 254 and 250 and Vienna 53 and 54).

Foreign Office advised Embassy yesterday that HMG could not augment its forces in Austria by use of troops released from Trieste or otherwise. Usual reasons were cited, i.e., need for troops elsewhere, burden which requisitioning quarters would impose on Austrian economy and political problem this would create for UK in its relations with Austria, financial difficulty, and difference, as Foreign Office understands it, in US and UK military views concerning role of forces in Austria and their deployment there for strategic purposes.⁴

Aldrich

1. Repeated to Paris, Vienna, and Rome eyes only for the Ambassadors.
2. Telegram 2122 reported that Eden would talk with Macmillan about this matter to find out what his final decision was. (763.0221/10–2954)
3. Telegram 2167 reported Macmillan’s statement that he would be talking with Eden on Nov. 2 and that the matter would be discussed by the Cabinet on Nov. 3. Once the decision had been made, Macmillan agreed to inform Aldrich immediately. (763.0221/11–254)
4. Excerpts from letters sent to Ambassador Aldrich by both Eden and Macmillan expressing regret that the British Government was not able to meet the wishes of the U.S. Government on this issue were transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 2318 from London, Nov. 12. (763.0221/11–1254)