SVP NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R000300070007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 10, 1998
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 23, 1947
• Content Type: IR

CONFID ''1IAL
t
Approved For Release 1999 IA-RDP82-OO457ROOO3OOO7OOO7-8
-A g
~ E.NTRAL INTELLIGENCE GROUP
I lTELLIGENCE REPORT
25X1A2g
COUNTRY
Italy/Austria
25X1X6
DATE.
WO.
SUBJECT
SVP Negotiations vii th the
Austrian Government
DIST. 23 January
PAGES 4
1947
ORIGIN
25X1A6a
SUPPLEMENT
Drs. Tinzl and von Guggenberg of the SVP (South Tirolean Volks-
partel. ) are reported to have gone to Innsbruck to talk with
Counsellor Schbner of the Austrian Foreign Ministry early in
December, Following these conversations, the two South Tiro--
loan representatives went up to Vienna for three days, sere
they had talks with Chancellor Figl, Vice-Chancellor Scharf
and Foreign Minister Dr. Gruber.
The results of these talks may be su rizsd as follows:
I. Otan.ts' Question
1. The South Tirolse s pointed out to Gruber the increasing
urgency of the opta7 ts'. question, with regard to.,
(a) the need for suitable ppersonnel to be re-
cruited from the optants f or Germany now
in North Tirol;
(b) the fact that the Italians continue to dis-
criminate against those optants for German
who are back in South Tirol, by refusing them
trade licenses etc.
25X1A9a
25X1A9a
Gruber readily agreed to take every possible step to expedite
the settlement of this question. In particular, he promised
to send. a note immediately to the Italian Government, sug-
esting that the preliminary discussions of this question be-
ween The Austrian and Italian Governments, envisaged in the
Paris Agreement of 5 September 1946, be initiated immediately .
The note will stress the urgency of the c i~estion, with regard
to the 70,000 optants for Germany who are today eking out a
precarious existence in North Tirol. It will further contain
the suggestion that the Italian and Austrian Governments ap-
point special delegates for these conversations. _
_
VTOY
~
"
4380
F8K FBV
$POS
S rtp.
C a
~JR
fk C.
FSL .__+ w F1X
SPOT
B
. ~iTROL.
FSh1 ` fS ...
. _
SCd}~....
..
14
J-4
as
9991
_
ERB
 ;1,T#b~11'11 GE IMOUP
Approved For Release 1 2-00457R000300070007-8
25X1A2g
3. ;ruber asked the SVP representatives to provide him
with a memorandum setting forth their views on the-
settlement of the optants' question (in particular,
indicating their maximum and minimum demands) so
that he da ould be prepared f or the conversations Zvi th
the Italians.. Once the conversations havebegu oft
is intended that representatives of the SIP n
ti
on.
the Optants will fain the Austrian delega
The South Tirolean representatives were most favorably
impressed by Gruber 's understanding of this c, estion,
and his promise of prompt action.
TI. Ratification of the Pars egment
1. The SVP attach considerable import? ee to the ratifi-
cation of the Paris Agreement by the Austrian Parlia-
ment, because they believe that the Italians will put
f orwvard the non-ratification as an excuse for p
poning the execution of the Agreement. Gruber is sat d
to oppose the ratification. IIe argues that legally it
is not necessary, and that only the further accords en-
visaged in the Agreement require ratification. The
South Tirolcan representatives gained the Impression
that the real explanation of his opposition is his fear,
for internal political reasons,, of a further debate on
the;: South Tiroloan question. The aggree .however that
there are: disadvantages to the rati nication: name y$
the danger of the debate producing "unfortunate remarks
which would projudice the coifing negotiations with t he
Italians; further, the difficulty for the Austrian Par-
liament to rev,rt to its claim for self--determination
once it had ratified the Agreement, and the realization
that this ml ht prove desirable for tactical reasons
should the Italians play false in the execution the
on
Agreement. On the other hand, the primary tis
with the S1P today is to s peed up the execution of the
A reement and, as they believe that ratification would
serve this and, they refused to accept Gruber s view-
point. In the end a compromise was reached by Gruber
assuring the SVP representatives that he-vn uld take im-
mediate steps to obtain the ratification, should the
Italian Government demand It as a prerequisite to the
execution of the Agreement.
2. Should the Agreement come up for ratification before the
Austrian Parliament, the SPO (Austrian Socialist Party)
with the exception of its ;+orth Tirolean Deputies has
promised to vote for it.
III? Austrian Diplomatic ate rescntation in Rome
1. the SVP representatives have expressed their dissatis-
faction-with the present Austr3.vandiplomatic ftotterent~ey
ti.on in Rome, and ja rticiilarly with ~,inStier They
wished Rotter recai iea ana re laced by Aaron. simmer.
further fished Dr. Hai s Sohftf 1 attached to the Rome Lega-
taion as special expert in the South Tirol giestion.
Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA- P 8
 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300070007-8
COI,FIDFNTIAL 25X1A2g
CE::TRA.L I1 T LLIG%IrCE GROUP
3 -
2. =ruber told them that he was prepared to recall Ro tter,
but that he could not replace him by Baron 7 ' 71rm ,or be-
em se the Socialists wota d not agree to it. ate informed
them, ho;never, that he thought of appointing Dr. Sehwarz-
enber (at n resent Counsellor in s) as i1usi:r:.an
a;.inister in' Rome. He also agreed to Dr. SeiiBffl's
joining the Rome Legation.
3. The South Tirolcans are completely satisfied, and agree
th- t Schwarzenberg is a better rilan for the post than
their friend Baron 'iimacr,
IV. Special Austrian Comm ssioner for South Tirolean Affairs
1. The South Tirolea i s requested the appointment of a
special Austrian Cormnissionor with an office in Inns-
bruck rather than in Vienna to supervise the execution
of the Paris Agreement. Joth Gruber and Chancellor
Figl a-reed to such an appointment, but Figl maintained
that tie Commissioner should reside In Vienna arguing
that "the separatist tendencies in North Tirol are al-
readr too strong for my likin-". The South Tirolcais
replied that Vienna was too distant from Bolzano, and
finally F1g1 gave way.
2. Dr. Kneusl, forner Landesantdirektor in Innsbruck, has
been chosen as Comm! ssioncr, and will take up his now
duties early in the Pie : Year. The Office for South
Tirol in Innsbruck will be reorganized and placed under
his direction.
The Autonomy ' uestion
1. Gruber allegedly.told the South Tiroleans that it
was for them to take the initiative in the ne.otiatIons
with the Italians concerning the setting up of the auto-
nomous regime in South Tirol. However he said he would
always be prepared to intervene on their behalf should
they need his support on any particular point.
2. The South Tiroloans asked him if he could not obtain a
clarification of the issue of provincial versus regional
autonomy. Gruber hedged on this point intimating that
he would rather postpone any intervention "until May next,
when the Austrian Go iernment should be in a far stronger
bargaining position".
3. He expressed approval of the steps td: on by the SVP to
date to bring about s tno f orn of collaboration bet,,-;eon
3olzano and Trento.
Approved For Release 1999/0 GIAMPM 646 b00300070007-8
 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-004572000300070007-8
COA :FI Db' AL
25X1A2g
CENTRAL ?INTL,LLI E CL: GROUP
4
4. The SVP have decided to send a delegation down to
Rome to discuss the autonomy question with the com-
ppetent Italian Authorities and, if possible, with
Iio f':asperi himself . Herr Arm,onn and Tars. i as fciner
and Vol=er are certain members of this delegation
It is also probable that Dr. Tinzl will join it,
and the advisability of including a socisi ist re-
presentative is under discussion.
VI. Visit to Vice-Chancellor Scharf
1. The Sou.tI Tirolean reppres ntatives raid a courtesy
visit to Bice-G.11ancellor 'chfrf, It h ,kiom they were
most favorably impressed. fcharf assured them that
the St'O would support any arrange.n nts they made with
ruber as "there a.re no differences bet-,roen the 07P
(Austrian Volkspartei) and SPO on the South Tirol ques-
tion.
2. On the tole, the South Tiroleans -ierc fully satisfied
with the results of their Vienna visit. Dr. Tinzl
told his colleagues of the SVP subsequently that, the
only difference of opinion he foresaw between them
and the Austrian Government was on the time question:
Zile the,SVP attach the greatest importance to the
imrcediate execution of the Paris Agreement, in view
of the unsettled mood of their people, the Austrian
Government is ap.rently of the opinion that the ex-
ecution of the. Agreement should be postponed until
next spring {Then the Government expects to be in a
far stronger bargaining position.
CWWDENTIAL
Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300070007-8