740.0011EW (Peace)/9–1849: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
priority
niact
2348. Appointment set by Foreign Office at 3:30 this morning (mytel 2344, September 171) and Gromyko received us at 3 p. m. local time today. French Ambassador explained briefly the purpose of the parallel notes, in terms of deputies failure to settle remaining treaty articles in accordance with Paris CFM directive, at same time emphasizing basic common point of departure provided by Moscow declaration of 1943: namely, to reestablish a democratic and independent Austria.
Gromyko agreed that the Moscow declaration was the common basis but that there had been concrete problems and asked whether we had any concrete suggestions.
British Ambassador then enumerated and summarized briefly the six specific points covered by the parallel notes.
Gromyko immediately agreed that the deputies should meet on September 22 in New York and that the Soviet delegation would participate, adding that Zarubin was already on his way to New York. He repeated that we all accept the Moscow declaration, though various concrete questions still remained to be solved.
I concurred in presentation already made by my two colleagues and expressed satisfaction with the Soviet Government agreement to resume talks in New York.
French Ambassador pointed out that eighteen unsettled items at the time of the Paris CFM had now been reduced to six, thus real progress had been made, and Soviet Foreign Minister’s statements augured well for resumption of talks in New York.
Gromyko agreed, adding that British Ambassador had enumerated the main unsettled points and expressing hope that remaining questions would be solved in New York.
[Page 1157]Meeting lasted twenty minutes, was amicable with Gromyko in affable mood and apparently not surprised by either our joint approach or our subject. Particularly important is fact that no reference was made to holding CFM in this or any other connection. We have since concerted the substance of this telegram and my British and French colleagues are similarly telegraphing to London, Paris and Vienna.
Also, after consultation, we all feel that publication of the text of the notes would not be advisable in the present circumstance (reference London’s telegram 3736 to Department September 162). We would recommend that a communiqué be issued by the governments in London, Paris, and Washington as follows:
“The Ambassadors of France, Great Britain and the US called together on 18 September upon the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, Mr. Gromyko, to present notes amplifying the communiqué issued in Washington on September 15 by Secretary of State Acheson, Foreign Minister Bevin, and Foreign Minister Schuman, on the matter of the treaty with Austria. During the course of the conversation the outstanding points of difference were outlined.
“The Acting Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union accepted on behalf of his government the proposal already made for the resumption of the meetings of the deputies on the Austrian treaty convening on 22 September in New York; and assured the three ambassadors that the Soviet deputy would participate.”3
Sent Department 2348, Department pass Paris 340. London 255, Vienna 58.