Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western European Integration and Security, Canada, Volume VII, Part 1

13. Telegram From the Embassy in Austria to the Department of State ⁰

Vienna, March 21, 1958, 7 p.m.

2666. Gruber informed Embassy officer that Chancellor¹ told Soviet Ambassador whom he had called in on another matter that Austrian Government is giving consideration to idea of joining the Common Market. Gruber said Soviet Ambassador’s reaction was negative but “not too much so.” Chancellor explained that he is not optimistic that the Free Trade Area will come into being, and if it does, it might be so watered down as to be ineffective. The Soviet Ambassador told Chancellor that if he joins the Common Market “those people will have him by the throat.”

Matthews

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 440.002/3–2158. Secret. Repeated to Moscow.
1. Julius Raab.