663.001/10–2850
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by Mr. Ben D. Kimpel of the Office of Western European Affairs
| Participants: | Dr. Coreth1 (Vienna) calling from New York |
| Mr. B.D. Kimpel, WE |
Subject: Conversation between Dr. Gruber and Mr. Vishinsky as related by Dr. Coreth
Dr. Gruber wanted to inform the Department of a long conversation which he had with Vishinsky at the latter’s country home near New York.2 Dr. Gruber had, at first, not intended to discuss Austrian problems in detail, but Vishinsky was unusually affable and anxious to talk. They first discussed the State Treaty. Vishinsky said that the Soviet Union has always been anxious to conclude a Treaty but feared [Page 470] that the Western Powers would keep insisting on postponement and would refuse to discuss the unagreed Articles, particularly the Soviet amendment to Article 9. Vishinsky emphasized the fact that this amendment is necessary because the Austrian Government has not carried out its task of de-Nazification and demilitarization. Vishinsky went on to say that the Soviet Union was leery of concluding further treaties with the Western Powers when the latter did not carry out treaties already concluded. He mentioned particularly the provisions of the Italian Treaty dealing with Trieste, and asked what guarantee the Soviets would have that the United States would withdraw from Austria should a Treaty be concluded. Dr. Gruber assured him that the Austrian Government would oppose any unilateral occupation, to which Vishinsky answered that the Austrian Government would not be powerful enough to assure the withdrawal of United States troops. He concluded this subject with a clear statement that he does not believe that so long as the Western Powers are unwilling to end the cold war and settle all outstanding issues, any such issues can be satisfactorily settled.
Dr. Gruber then mentioned recent instances of Soviet interference in Austria. Vishinsky stated that he was not familiar enough with details to discuss this question, but believed that the Soviet occupation forces should have the right to remove Fascist elements from the police. He concluded with the statement that the Soviet Union in no way wished a deterioration of its relations with the Austrian Government or a change in the present situation.
Dr. Gruber drew from this conversation the conclusions that the door should continually be kept open for negotiations on the Treaty and that the Soviets did not intend to change the status quo in Austria.