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

663.001/12–354: Telegram

No. 947
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State¹

secret
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London, December 3, 1954—noon.

2623. Re Deptel 3001, December 2.² Eden and top level Foreign Office officials are “Very angry” over French unilateral action over Austria. British believe French in Vienna have been talking unilaterally with Austrians and fear latter are slipping. They anticipate also that when Raab passes through Paris in mid-December Mendès will work on him again.

In British view Mendès’ United Nations speech is further evidence of his willingness to subordinate tripartite interests to French domestic issues and he has thus added to the distrust with which he is regarded. In attempt scotch further French unilateral action on questions involving relations with Kremlin, British wish to reestablish firm tripartite position on Austrian Treaty and accordingly propose London talks under reference. Main purpose of talks, according British, would be to prevent further unilateral French action by examining pros and cons on extending period of withdrawal in Article 33 of Austrian State Treaty and fixing specific date therefor. While Foreign Office has no fixed position at present it considers that reexamination would reveal more arguments against revision Article 33 than for.

Harrison states that he is to see Chanel this morning and intends “bluntly to inform him that French must put a stop to further unilateral action on tripartite matters.”

Aldrich

1. Repeated to Paris, Vienna, Moscow, and Bonn.
2. Telegram 3001 informed the Embassy that it was not authorized to participate in the proposed tripartite talks in London pending clarification of the purpose of these talks and the French position on the démarche in Moscow. (663.001/12–154)