Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 1

740.5 MSP/3–652: Telegram

No. 7
The Deputy United States High Commissioner for Austria (Dowling) to the Department of State¹

secret

Vienna, March 6, 1952—8 p.m.

2881. Membership in OEEC, although provoking criticism and recurrent needling on part of Sovs, has constituted important part of Aust international activity with full support of govt and no serious repercussions from Sovs (Deptel 2102, Feb 19²). Aust attitude toward NATO one of sympathetic curiosity but full awareness that any formal or open connection therewith out of question at present. It is Emb’s belief that provided proposed functional NATO–OEEC integration preserves separate official identity of the two organizations, Aust would continue to participate in OEEC without nervousness, although it might be expected that Aust representatives would avoid those aspects of work closely connected with NATO. Accordingly, any formalization of work arrangements between NATO and OEEC would probably necessitate Aust withdrawal from latter organization.

Dowling

1. Repeated to Paris and London.
2. Same as Document 4.