Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Europe: Political and Economic Developments, Volume IV, Part 2

No. 590

663.001/12–251: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Austria ¹

secret

Washington, December 5, 1951—7:14 p.m.

1417. For Donnelly. Bonn’s 585 Dec 2 rptd Vienna 22.² Concur Reber’s recommendations that existing procedure through CFM Secretariat be utilized for notifying Sovs date Treaty mtg and that timing shld take into consideration views Aust Govt. Dept still prefers Deputies’ mtg in Jan for reasons set forth Deptel 1373.³ We consider it advisable that officer from Vienna also attend Deputies’ mtg and wld appreciate knowing whom you designate.

Dept leaves to your judgment whether tripartite appraisal of abbreviated treaty by High Commissioners wld be desirable pending wider tripartite agreement.⁴ As we see it, its chief purpose wld be to urge Brit and Fr High Commissioners to support our position in recommendations to their govts. For time being we wld prefer your estimate of situation and report of views of Aust Govt to joint action.

Material requested in Secto 112 Nov 29 rpt Vienna 61⁵ is now being prepared. We will forward it soon for use by you in possible discussions with other High Commissioners and for discussions with Brit and Fr FonOff.

Wld appreciate hearing soonest your recommendations for timing.⁶

Webb

1. Drafted by Williamson, Allen, and Rutter and cleared with Bonbright. Repeated to London, Paris, Moscow, and Bonn for Reber.
2. Not printed, but see footnote 3, supra.
3. supra.
4. Donnelly left Vienna for Rome on November 30 where he had a meeting with Acheson on December 2. They agreed to recommend to the Department of State that the three Western High Commissioners in Austria jointly appraise the abbreviated treaty as a first step in obtaining wider tripartite agreement. This recommendation and a brief statement about their meeting is in telegram 2453 from Rome, December 2. (663.001/12–251)
5. Telegram Secto 112 recommended, in light of British and French confusion concerning the use of the abbreviated treaty, that a detailed scenario be devised which explained how the United States proposed to use it. (740.5/11–2951)
6. The British and French agreed that the meeting should be held in early January. (Telegram 2617 from London, December 5, 663.001/12–551, and telegram 3373 from Paris, December 6, 663.001/12–651)