Evening star., 1948-12-13
What Next in Austria?

The identic notes addressed by the
Austrian government to the four occupying
powers excite no surprise. For some time,
the Austrians have been sounding out the
possibility of a resumption of negotiations
between the Big Four" looking to the
conclusion of a peace treaty which would
regularize Austria's anomalous situation.
That situation is one of the worst in
Justices of the postwar period. Long before
the end of the war, the Big Three
America, Britain and Russia - agreed
mutually among themselves that Austria
should be considered liberated" rather
than an enemy country. Declaring that
the "AnSchluss" with Hitler's Reich was
legally null and void, they further pledged
themselves to respect Austrian independ-
ence and sovereignty. The fourfold post
war occupation of Austria, though similar
In form to that of Germany, was explicitly
differentiated in character, the announced
purpose being to cleanse the country OF
Nazi SIN and facilitate the setting up OF
q stable government established or. demo-
cratic lines. In conformity with these
purposes, the occupying powers permitted
the holding of free elections which chose
q government formally recognized by the
occupiers.
The way thus seemed clear for the quick
signing of a peace treaty which would
have given Austria full international
status However, negotiations between the
Big Four soon begged down over Russian
demands which the Western Powers
deemed both exorbitant and contrary to
their mutual agreements. Under the guise
of reparations, Russia set up claims on
Austria's capital assets which would have
converted it into satellite of the Soviet
Union. Also Moscow backed Yugoslav
claims to a slice of the Austrian province
of Carinthia which the Western Powers
deemed entirely inadmissible. AS result
of these Russian distractions, the negotia-
tions dragged on fruitlessly for some two
years until they were broken of last May.
The question which interests Western
diplomats is why the Austrian government
now asks for resumption of the
negotiations The Austrians have not
indicated concrete reasons for believing
that Four Power agreement on treaty
is now possible, but certain hopeful aspects
can be surmised. Chief among these is
the changed relations between Soviet
Russia and it's indocile satellite, Marshal
Tito of Yugoslavia. There is speculation
to the effect that Moscow may no longer
back to the full Yugoslav claims to Carin-
thia-the worst stumbling block to a Big
Four agreement on a peace treaty. 1t
would also seem that Russian exploitation
of its occupation zone has been so drastic
that 1t no longer pays; so Moscow might
be amenable to financial settlement
which would liquidate its economic claims
at profit. Lastly, communism is so weak
in Austria that the Western Powers would
not have the same fear they feel in Ger
many that the evacuation of Austria by
all occupying troops would be followed by
Red coup and an imposed Communist
satellite regime.
Such are the hopeful surmises which
lend some support to belief that renewed
negotiations would be successful. And the
Western Powers have all expressed their
willingness to reopen discussions on q
suitable basis. However, Moscow has as
yet made no reply to the Austrian note
and there are grounds for doubling that
Moscow would renegotiate on serious
basis. peace treaty for Austria would
involve not only the withdrawal of Russian
troops from that country, but also evac-
uation of the communications" detach-
ments which Russia is legally entitled te
maintain In Hungary and Romania until