Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

663.001/1–2750

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Italian-Austrian Affairs ( Williamson )

secret

[ Washington ,] January 27, 1950.

Participants:	Mr. Arnauld Wapler, Counselor, French Embassy
	Mr. Francis T. Williamson, WE

Mr. Wapler called today to read instructions received from the French Foreign Office respecting future policy in Austria in the event that the Treaty is not concluded. His instructions stressed the desirability of taking steps in Austria which would relieve the burden of occupation but would not prejudice the negotiations for the Treaty¹

or lead to any weakening of the quadripartite system. The instructions stated that the French Government would not take any steps which might contribute to the partition of Austria or create the impression that the Western Powers were seeking a separate peace in lieu of the Four-Power Treaty.

The French Foreign Office suggested that the objective of any future policy should be to strengthen the sovereign control of the Austrian Government over all Austrian territory. Both the military and civilian staffs of the High Commissioners should be reduced as a way of decreasing occupation costs and turning back to the Austrians many of the duties now performed by the occupation authorities. The controls now exercised by the occupation authorities in the zones should be terminated and as few occupation officials as possible stationed in the zones to serve as a “buffer” between the occupation troops and the Austrian authorities. The French Foreign Office stated that it would not be desirable to reduce troop strength but that considerable reduction could be made in the administrative aspects of the occupation. It was proposed that the responsibility for the maintenance of internal order in Austria in the Western zones be turned over to the Austrian Government and that the Austrian police force be strengthened in order to carry out this duty. The French Foreign Office stated that it “agreed with the U.S. position” that the High Commissioners should be military men. The reduction of the staffs of the High Commissioners, however, would reduce the demand for housing and billets now made on the Austrian Government.

The French instructions concluded by stating that any action which is taken by the Western Powers should be of such nature that retaliatory action could not be taken by the Soviet element. The French Foreign Office believed that sufficient latitude existed in the existing agreements to make possible far-reaching changes in the nature of occupation. It was proposed that conversations take place as soon as possible on this subject at a governmental level. The French Foreign Office stated that these conversations could be held in London or Washington but that it would naturally prefer to hold them in Paris.

In reply I communicated to Mr. Wapler the substance of the Department’s telegram no. 115 to Vienna of January 21² which out-lined our policy with respect to future action in Austria. In terms of the preservation of the unity of Austria there is no basic difference between the French view as proposed above and the basic policy objectives of the U.S. I told Mr. Wapler that we were considering this problem and would communicate with him at a future date. He stated that similar communication had been given to the British Government in London and that he hoped that discussions could be started at an early date.³

1. For documentation on the negotiations of the Deputies for Austria at the Council of Foreign Ministers for an Austrian Treaty, see pp. 430 ff.

2. Not printed; it reads in part:

   “We do not intend to take any step which might contribute toward partition of the country or weaken Allied Council in such way as to leave Sovs in sole control. We consider that State treaty is only existing means for fulfilling international commitments respecting Austrian independence. US will continue to regard Austria as liberated area and will support in all fields authority of Aust Govt. We will continue to resist interference by Sovs in operation and authority of Aust Govt and seek to minimize unrealistic controls established in early days of Occupation.” (663.001/1–2150)

3. The substance of Wapler’s instructions was transmitted to London, Paris, and Vienna on January 30.