Editorial Note
On October 5 Foreign Minister Gruber on behalf of the Austrian Government sent a message to Secretary Acheson reporting the attempts of the Communist Party to incite a general strike and the activities of the Soviet Kommandatura which prevented the government from maintaining order and security. Gruber concluded with a “fervent appeal to the United States Government, as an occupying power, to support it in its efforts to maintain order in the country.”
In a statement released to the press on the following day Acting Secretary Webb stated that the Austrian Government had the full support of the United States, and in a message to Chancellor Figl on October 7 he reiterated this position saying “the actions taken by your Government to maintain law and order in the face of recent Communist inspired and Soviet supported disturbances have the full support of this Government.” Webb assured the Federal Government that the United States would “take all proper action to fulfill its international commitments with respect to Austria and in particular to assure the maintenance of law and order in the areas of its responsibilities in Austria.”
For the texts of the two messages and the press release, see Department of State Bulletin, October 16 and 23, 1950, pages 616 and 657.