Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 42. (1992)
BISCHOF, Günter: The Anglo-American Powers and Austrian Neutrality, 1953–1955
Günter Bischof Molotov’s words. Had Molotov dropped the linkage between the Austrian and the German questions? Bischoff had a number of personal interviews with Molotov. Molotov strongly pushed bilateral talks if no four-power conference was possible. Bischoff reminded Molotov that one could hardly get the Western powers to a confernce table before the ratification of the Paris Agreements. Molotov replied that „it would depend mainly on Austria.“ If Austria and the Soviet Union could reach agreement on the matter, „the others would find it difficult to say no“64). This is essentially what the British and Dulles had observed more than a year earlier: Austria’s international status would ultimately depend on the Austrians themselves. In a conversation with Ambassador Bischoff, the high level diplomat Semjonov enlarged on what was in the Kremlin’s mind: Im Gespräch mit ihm verstärkt sich die Vermutung, daß die Initiative Molotows auf den Wunsch zurückgeht, durch eine real gesicherte Neutralisierung Österreichs zu verhindern, daß die durch die Pariser Abmachung bewirkte Zerreißung Deutschlands zusammen mit der dadurch geschaffenen Frontlinie sich - mit allem was das unter Um- nständen für uns zu bedeuten hätte - auch auf österreichischen Boden fortsetze. Es wäre uns dadurch funktional eine ähnliche Rolle zugedacht wie Schweden, Finnland, Schweiz und Jugoslawien65). Molotov urged Bischoff in their conversations to think about „effective guarantees“ against a future Anschluß66). Molotov said „Anschluß“, but he probably meant any Austrian integration into Western alliances. In the next few weeks Raab, with the help of Kreisky, received sufficient hints that a future Austrian international status of neutrality, similar to the Swiss one, would constitute an acceptable guarantee against „Anschluß.“ Raab and a high level67) delegation were invited to Moscow to continue the bilateral talks at the highest level. Thus the informal Au64) Of particular importance in the bilateral diplomacy between Austria and the Soviet Union in February/March 1955, conducted mainly via the Bischoff channel in Moscow, the various documents in Österreich und die Grossmächte, ed. by Schilcher 236-83; Stourzh Staatsvertrag 132-38. 65) Semjonov conversation in Bischoff (Moscow) to Foreign Ministry (Vienna), 28 Feburary 1955, in Österreich und die Grossmächte, ed. by Schilcher 241. 66) Molotov-Bischoff conversations of 28 February and 15 March 1955, and BischofFs 27 February analysis of Molotov’s thinking, see ibid. 240-45. 67) Stourzh Staatsvertrag 133-38; see also Bruno Kreisky Zwischen den Zeiten: Erinnerungen zus fünf Jahrzehnten (Vienna 1986) 466-72. 384
