Office of the Historian

69. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Austrian Ambassador (Gruber)1

Washington, May 17, 1972, 12:07 p.m.

K: Hello.

G: Gruber speaking.

K: Hello Mr. Ambassador. How nice to hear from you. Iʼm calling you about some of the reports we are getting about large demonstrations in Salzburg and also the fact that these crowds are going to be let in on the airport when the President arrives. And I just want to say, you know, I know there are limitations on what you can do. But it would really have very unfortunate consequences here …2

G: I donʼt think this is in any way the case, but I will call them up in Vienna right away.

K: And you know, the President has very warm feelings towards Austria and it would be a pity to destroy them with this sort of thing.

G: No, no, I will talk to them right away and weʼll see that we get the true picture … the trouble is the news reports very often exaggerate it or are not quite…

K: Well, I know what … You know, I know itʼs not the feeling of the Austrian government or the vast majority of the people.

G: Salzburg should be the ideal to settle then I would say; there should be no problem whatsoever.

K: Well thatʼs what I would have thought. But I just thought I should call you.

G: That was very fine. Thank you very much and I will get in touch with them immediately.

[Page 184]

K: Very good.

G: Thank you very much.

K: Nice to talk to you.

G: Thank you very much.

  1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 21, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.↩
  2. Telegram 3382 from Vienna, May 17, reported: “In press conference following yesterdayʼs (May 16) cabinet meeting Chancellor Kreisky placed expected ‘anti-Nixon demonstrations’ into pro-U.S. perspective in stating that Austrian Communist Party ‘which is most Moscow-servile CP will in fact demonstrate against Brezhnev and Kosygin since Pres. Nixonʼs Salzburg stop-over came about as a result of their invitations to U.S. President to visit Moscow.’ He pointed out that demonstrations are permissible in a free society, but Austrian authorities will insist that Salzburg demonstrations remain strictly within the law.” Sonnenfeldt summarized the telegram in a May 18 memorandum to Kissinger. (Both are in the National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 668, Country Files—Europe, Austria, Vol. I)↩