Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 152: Briefing Book–Military Planning¹

The United States High Commissioner for Austria (Keyes) to the Department of the Army

top secret

Vienna, 1 February 1950.

P–4463. Ref P–4441 and War 99047.² Following agreed points complete agreement among three Western elements on board [broad?] principles for creation of Aust Army:

a. Orgn of Aust Army outlined in enclosure to P&O letter dtd 22 Nov 49³ has been accepted as basis for 28,000–man army.

b. Combined planning for creation of Aust Army must have its objective the expansion of the Army to its ultimate treaty strength of 53,000 including gendarmerie.

Details concerning development of Aust Army and use of special gendarmerie regt have been subject of further discussions. Initial US proposals referred to in P–4389⁴ brought forth constructive comments and counter proposals which are reflected in broad plan presented to French and British elements on 30 Jan 50. Recognizing impossibility of completing even minimum essential steps for creation of Aust Army in 90 day period, plan outlined below cites covert steps to be taken by Aust Govt prior to eff [effective] date of treaty. Security and political considerations necessitated formulation of plan without benefit of advice from Aust officials. It is believed that these steps can be taken without legal Soviet interference and with minimum Soviet reaction. This plan does not sacrifice our basic aims and should not be construed as substituting gendarmerie for Aust Army. Prior to presentation to Aust Govt your apl [approval] in principle of this plan is considered essential. Meanwhile, subj to their High Commissioner’s acceptance of plan, French and British have agreed to meet about 3 Feb 50 with US element at working level to draft policy paper based on this plan for presentation to Aust Govt by three Western High Commissioners.

Proposals made to French and British on 30 Jan 50 follow:

a. As soon as peace treaty has been initiated Aust Govt will expand gendarmerie by bringing in 10,000 temporary gendarmes who will be organized into potential divisional type units. This expansion can be accomplished and supported by supplementary budget not subj to Soviet veto.

b. When treaty becomes eff temporary gendarmerie units will be transferred to Aust Army intact.

c. Primary mission special gendarmerie regt now being trained is to assist in timely creation of Aust Army; secondary and covering mission to provide mobile security force.

d. In fulfilling primary mission special gendarmerie regt will train temporary gendarmes as cadres for expansion of temporary gendarmerie units.

e. Special gendarmerie regt shall have nucleus of regular gendarmes (aprx 40%) permanently assigned to regt. Remainder of authorized spaces will be filled by successive increments of temporary gendarme trainees who will be potentially qualified for regular army assignment.

f. Plan provides for rotating aprx 20% of authorized strength of special gendarmerieregt into inactive gendarmerie reserve every two months beginning six months after plan is initiated.

g. Reserve of trained temporary gendarmes will form cadres for units created during gendarmerie expansion after initialing of treaty.

Under this plan development of Aust Army would progress in following four phases:

a. First phase (period prior to initialing of peace treaty). Aust Govt will prepare draft legislation covering expansion of gendarmerie and creation of Aust Army. Special gendarmerie regt will train cadres as outlined above. Aust orgn, logistical, and training plans will be completed.

b. Second phase (period from initialing to ratification of treaty—est aprx six months). Aust Govt will implement promptly legal provisions to expand gendarmerie by 10,000 temporary gendarmes. Based on these provisions the temporary gendarmes will be organized into potential divisional type units with the majority infantry. Equip rqd for issue to temporary gendarmerie units during this phase will consist primarily of individual arms and equip. Seduced amounts of orgnl arms, equip, and trans will also be rqd for training. It is planned to utilize part of the equip to be stockpiled for Aust Army; issue to be accomplished in same manner that equip was issued to special gendarmerie regt.

c. Third phase (period from ratification to departure of occupation forces—90 days). Aust Govt will im [immediately] introduce and pass legislation creating Aust Army; Aust Army will be created; temporary gendarmerie units will be transferred to Army; Army will expand to 28,000 men. Remainder of equip for 28,000 man army will be issued.

d. Fourth phase (period after departure of occupation forces). Training of 28,000 man army will be completed and Army will be expanded toward treaty limit.

The success of this plan hinges on prompt stockpiling of the equip for the Aust Army, preferably under USFA control, and authority to issue equip as outlined above.

The success of the program as a whole will depend on the wholehearted and active follow-through of the Austs themselves as well as full cooperation and complete support of Western Allies.⁵

1. The CFM Files are a consolidated master collection of the records of conferences of Heads of State, Council of Foreign Ministers and ancillary bodies, North Atlantic Council, other meetings of the Secretary of State with the Foreign Ministers of European powers, and materials on the Austrian and German peace settlements for the years 1943–1955 prepared by the Department of State Records Service Center.
2. Neither found in Department of State files.
3. Not found in Department of State files.
4. Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. iii, p. 1256.
5. In telegram P–4533, February 4, from Vienna, not printed, Keyes reported that the British and French High Commissioners had accepted the plan for the creation of an Austrian Army as outlined in this telegram. (CFM Files, Lot M–88, Box 152, Tripartite Conversations–Austria)