Talk & Talk & Talk

In 259 meetings, representatives of the four occupying powers had talked & talked about an Austrian peace treaty. Each time that they seemed to be on the point of agreement, the Russian representative found an excuse for postponement. Satisfied that Stalin was deliberately sidestepping his ten-year-old promise of a free and independent Austria, the U.S., Britain and France last year drew up an abbreviated peace treaty with Austria. It ran into two difficulties. Russia refused to discuss it, and Austria pointed out that it would mean the withdrawal of only allied occupation troops, leaving Austria at the mercy of the Red army. Russia demanded resumption of four-power talks. So this week the representatives of the U.S., Britain, France and the Soviet Union dutifully held their 260th meeting on the treaty. Result: hours of talk, nothing accomplished.

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