Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Austrian State Treaty; Summit and Foreign Ministers Meetings, 1955, Volume V

73. Telegram From the Office of the High Commissioner for Austria to the Department of State¹

Vienna, May 14, 1955—9 p.m.

2764. At one hour and ten minute meeting of 5 FonMins treaty was accepted as prepared by preceding Ambassadors’ Conf with exception para 3 of Preamble (war guilt clause) which was deleted without discussion at Aust request.²

Molotov read out first 5 paras of Moscow memorandum of April 15³ concluding with remark that Sov Govt assumed that 3 Western powers shared in approval of these proposals. The Secretary acknowledged his awareness of Moscow memorandum and stated that US found no objection to Austria’s following course laid down therein. Both French and UK FonMins likewise raised no objection in principle, but added they should like to become acquainted with terms of declaration which Austria envisaged. Macmillan mentioned that he would further like to know of the ways and means by which it would be proposed that UK should participate in any 4 power guarantee. Figl simply responded that AustGov stood by Moscow agreement and was prepared today, if FonMins agreed, to submit draft of intended Aust neutrality declaration. Molotov then offered draft text of proposed 4 power declaration wherein 4 powers wld respect and observe status of permanent Aust neutrality of type observed by Switzerland in relations with other states.⁴ The Secretary acknowledged usefulness of having Sov views but reserved his final position until he could become acquainted with text of neutrality declaration as adopted by AustGov, adding that in principle he found no objection to declaration along lines of Sov draft. Brit and French voiced similar views. Remainder of discussion concerned arrangements for treaty signing which is to take place Sunday May 15 at 11:30 at Belvedere Palace.

After end meeting Austs circulated their draft neutrality declaration, and Sovs their suggested 4 power declaration, texts of which are being sent separately.⁵

Thompson

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–VI/5–1455. Official Use Only; Niact. Repeated to London, Paris, Moscow, Bonn, and Rome.
2. The unofficial U.S. Delegation minutes of the Foreign Ministers meeting were transmitted as an enclosure to despatch 1314 from Vienna, May 16. (Ibid., 396.1–VI/5–1655) For a French stenographic report of this meeting, see Documents Diplomatiques Français, 1955, Tome 1, pp. 647–653.
3. See Document 26.

4. Transmitted in telegram 2765 from Vienna, May 14, this declaration reads as follows:

   “The Governments of the USSR, US, UK and France hereby declare that the Soviet Union, the United States of America, Great Britain and France shall respect and observe the status of permanent neutrality of Austria of the kind adhered to by Switzerland in her relations with other states.” (Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–VI/5–1455)

5. For the draft neutrality declaration, see telegram 2766, infra.