Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-15
AUSTRIA
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him and Austrian Chancellor
Raab in Moscow, April Is. he
read of Austria's promise to de-
clare her perpetual neutrality
and her undertaking to stay out
Of military alliances or permit
bases for foreign troops on Aus
TRAN soil.
Mr.. Molotov pointed out that a
resolution to this effect is to be
submitted to the Austrian Par
Lament after the treaty is rati-
ned. He suggested that the Big
Four powers should get out a
joint statement recognizing and
observing Austria's neutrality.
Urge Molotov to Slow Down
Ever so gently since Russia's
Amiability is still new and a little
frightening to everybody the
Western ministers told Mr.. Molo-
toy to slow down. In principle,
they said, they had no objection
to what he proposed, but they felt
any statement on their part
should await the action of the
Austrian Parliament.
1t seemed like an suspicious
start. Later tonight the three
western ministers would get a
chance to probe more deeply into
Mr.. Molotov's smiling front at
q dinner at the American En-
bassy. There is plenty of evil
dence that. despite the Austrian
treaty, the grim struggle for ad-
vantage between East and West
is going into a new phase.
Mr.. Molotov, who usually looks
happy when he has bombshell
up his sleeve, seemed in good
mood when he stepped from his
plane this afternoon into the
waiting arms of an Austrian and
satellite reception committee.
This time the bombshell had
preceded him. News that Russia
will hold its own private top
level conference with Yugoslavia
at the end of this month has
caused a terrific other here.
That Soviet Premier Bulganin,
Communist Boss Khruschev and
Deputy Premier Mikoyan should
be off to pay their respects to
Comrade Tito sends shivers down
good many Austrian backs.
There is even some speculation
that AuStria's neW-found free
dom and independence may turn
out to be less comfortable than
advance billing would indicate.
Festivity for Austrians
All of which, Of course. means
little enough to the Austrian In
the street. From his point of view
the occasion is one of unconfined
festivity. The red and white Aus
trian flag is flying from every
window and many buildings are
floodlit. Tomorrow at noon,
church bells will ring out the
glad tidings and school children
will gather in special classes to
be told the historic Importance OF
the occasion.
On the other hand, rejoicing is
hardly out Of hand.
So far, there has been nothing
that could be interpreted as
street dancing. and no one IS
passing out free beer.
Austrians, in fact, are famous
for taking things in stride. The
shades of the Congress of Wen
ma remind you that Big -Four
conferences are nothing new IN
this city.
Back in 1915, Viennese, with
an exquisite sense of protocol.
chopped four holes in the wall
of Ballhausplatz Chancellery so
that rulers of Russia. Britain,
Prussia and Austria could make
simultaneous entry. To-Day
there are separate airports.
Reporters spent a hectic day
yesterday. rushing between
Schwechat, where French For
eign Minister Pinay and British
Foreign Secretary Macmillan
checked in, to the American air.
port at Tulln, deep in the Rus
sian zone, to cover the arrival of
MI. Dulles. This afternoon, Mr..
Molotov's plane touched down on
Russian field at Voeslau and the
party was complete.
Treaty Palace Historic
The Government is showing
macabre sense of history in
some of its preparations for the
great occasion. The treaty will
be signed-with 20 new fountain
pens purchased for the cere-
mony-not at the BallhauSplatz,
but at Belvedere Palace. Today
the palace is remembered prin-
cipally as the home of Austrian
Heir Franz Ferdinand before his
unfortunate visit to Sarajevo in
1914. Earlier, it was occupied
by Marie Antoinette.
There appears to be a good
reason why witnesses at the
signing ceremony will be strictly
limited. Workers inspecting the
foundations at Be.vedere re-
ported that unless precautions
were taken, the Big Four might
we'll wind up in the cellar. There
was some talk Of trying to shole
up the sagging floorboards Of
the old palace. but this was
abandoned in favor of cutting
down on weight.