763.5/1–1851: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Secretary of State 1
3990. Deptel 3715, January 15 to Paris, repeated London 3394, Vienna 1362.2 FonOff Austrian desk officer confirmed that agreed directive re Austrian army had been sent UK HICOM. He added, however, that Caccia had been authorized to change text on his own authority if necessary to obtain French concurrence, providing of course changes also agreeable to his US colleague.
We called Mallet’s attention to desk officer’s statement, pointing out that it appeared inconsistent with impression we had received that FonOff had agreed to text without reservation. On basis our understanding Department had just instructed AmEmb Paris to make further attempt to obtain French concurrence to agreed directive and should they still be unwilling, to seek their agreement to procedure set forth final sentence reftel. Department’s instruction did not as we read it contemplate any changes in directives. Moreover, discussions with French HICOM envisaged in instructions to Caccia might only serve to delay matters at very time when it is to our common interest that phasing implementation program get under way as rapidly as possible.
Mallet confirmed our understanding that FonOff had approved directive without reservation and said he had not been aware that instructions had been sent to Caccia authorizing him to make changes in it. He assured us that matter would be straightened out at once.