Office of the Historian

740.00119 Council/5–2048: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Deputy for Austria at the Council of Foreign Ministers (Reber), at London

secret
us urgent
niact
Washington, May 21, 1948—6 p. m.

1857. Ausdel 27. For Reber. Delsec 1744.1 Latest Brit and Fr views on question of adjournment suggests there is essential unanimity of purpose on their and our part to leave door open for resumption of negotiations and to make possible settlement of frontier and reparations issues without appearance of acceptance by Soviets of ultimatum. Regarding settlement of these issues as fundamental step toward clearing the way for completion of treaty, we wish as indicated Ausdel 242 to take any constructive procedural action so long as substantive position of three powers on these questions is maintained. On other hand, in view of fact there have already been five series of meetings on Austrian treaty since Jan 19473 we consider assurances are necessary that there exists a justifiable basis for negotiations before US can participate further in treaty discussions.4

On basis of these considerations Dept approves formula Deputies have developed for calling next meeting in order to suggest temporary suspension rather than breaking-off of negotiations. We are prepared to cooperate with Brit and Fr in endeavor to preserve idea of continuity of negotiations to extent that communications be exchanged between Deputies rather than between govts and that member of Embassy staff, London, be designated to act as liaison for exchange of information with CFM secretariat or representatives of other govts, provided that he engages in no substantive discussions in absence of US Deputy. Suggest you propose to Douglas designation of appropriate officer to serve in this capacity. Do you contemplate the issuance at this time of any public statement on the outcome of the negotiations or have any recommendations concerning a press release here?

Marshall
  1. Not printed↩
  2. Ante, p. 1504.↩
  3. The five series of meetings were: London, January 14–February 25; Moscow, March 10–April 24; Vienna, May 12–October 11; London, November 25–Deeember 15, 1947; and the meetings beginning on February 20, 1948.↩
  4. The U.S. Deputy received no assurances from the Soviet delegation on the frontier question so the meetings were suspended.↩