740.00119 Control (Austria)/4–2048: Telegram
The High Commissioner in Austria (Keyes) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
priority
P–1602. Reference your WX–98886.1 Following is a brief summary of past quadripartite discussions concerning the armament of the Austrian Police and Gendarmerie and a report on unilateral acts taken. Since subject has been under practically continuous discussion within the Allied Commission for two years, the following condensation is too brief to give the full picture. Therefore, more detailed report follows by mail.
On 10th April 1946 the Allied Council reached agreement that the Austrian Gendarmerie would be permitted to carry rifles and the security police would be permitted to carry revolvers. The weapons presently in their possession were to be turned in, and uniform arms then available from the British were to be substituted therefor. Ammunition supply was fixed at 40 rounds per weapon. Finally, the decision provided that before the issue of arms took place the Allied Commission would approve the Ministry of the Interior’s plan for the training [Page 1364] and use of these weapons. Subsequent attempts to reach agreement on this last clause broke down over the Soviet refusal to permit the Austrian Police to use arms against Allied Nationals in uniform even in self defense. Distribution of arms was therefore never implemented and growing Soviet hostility toward the Austrian Police prevented any following agreements on the question.
By December 1946 the Soviet element mounted an attack on the Austrian Security Forces on the grounds that their strength had been increased without authorization and demanded allied limitation. In January 1947 Soviets charged that Austrian Police possessed unauthorized automatic weapons. Later the Soviet element, supported at that time by the French, attempted to limit numbers of the police on the grounds that their expenses exceeded the National Budget allocation. On this basis, and on the grounds of inadequate denazification, the Austrian law enforcement forces have been under fire by the Soviets ever since. Numerous requests from the Chancellor during the past eighteen months for authority to properly arm and equip the police have been of no avail in changing the Soviet attitude.
Elements within the Allied Council have been consistently divided for many months, with the Soviets demanding limitation of strength and denazification, while the US and British insist on proper armament and equipment. During January 1947 British element took the view that discussions on limitation of Gendarmeries’ strength were inopportune because of the treaty negotiations on article 17 which also covered this question. In June 1947 Soviets used this same argument to obstruct discussion of arms for Gendarmerie. British and US offered to consider the matter of arming the police only but Soviets refused to consider them separate from the Gendarmerie. Soviet element on several occasions has voiced the charge that the Austrian Govt was surreptitiously preparing a military organization under the guise of police. The last position taken by the Soviets was that the Austrian Police were already adequately armed. Except for incidental references, discussion of the entire question was confined to the Internal Affairs directorate between 29th August 1947 and 16th April 1948 as far as the Allied Council was concerned. On this last date the Soviet element raised the matter of limitation of authority of the Allied Military Police, and the US High Commissioner took the position that such an increase in the responsibilities of the Austrian Law Enforcement Agencies would necessitate their possession of proper and uniform armament. Reference our P–15842 for details.
The armament of the Police today is made of a heterogeneous collection of pistols requiring some fifteen different kinds of ammunition and nine types of rifles or carbines. Ammunition in some cases is non-existent [Page 1365] and there is no possibility for re-supply of others. During the weeks 18th to 31st March the British element issued to the Austrian Public Safety officers in their zone 1,624 revolvers and 3,315 rifles of standard pattern. The basis for the issue was the authorized budget strength and they were issued in bulk with 40 rounds of ammunition for each weapon. This transfer was not accomplished through the Ministry of the Interior. The total stores of arms in the British Zone amounted to 12,000 Smith and Wesson PT 38 caliber revolvers of US manufacture but acquired by the British through lend lease, and 10,750 British Enfield PT 303 caliber rifles. These arms have been available for distribution throughout Austria for two years. At present in Vienna there is an authorized Armed Police strength of 8,784 for which there are pistols available for 3,504, the balance of the Police being armed with rifles. Pol Ad concurs.