SOVIET CAMPAIGN AGAINST WEST GERMAN REARMAMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000300290008-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: March 30, 1955
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2000/08/30 ICJ -RDP80R01443R000300290008-1
SOVIET CAMPAIGN AGAINST WEST GERMAN REARMAMENT
Now that France and Germany have at last ratified the Paris
Accords, the Soviet campaign to block West German rearmament
has entered a new phase.
A. While still insisting that ratification of Accords has
made talks on Germany impossible, Moscow has inserted a
new element in its campaign an apparent willingness to
talk on Austria.
II. Kremlin may see an Austrian treaty as a means of preventing
German rearmament.
A. Moscow is advertising the possibility of an Austrian "settle-
ment"--on the condition that Austria observe strict
neutrality--in an effort to whet West German appetites
for a similar "settlement" there.
1. The Communists are already pushing the story that what
Moscow really wants is a protective belt of neutral
states on its western frontier, from Sweden through
Germany and Austria to Yugoslavia,
B, Too early, now, to say just when the possible gain in
Germany will make the Kremlin pay the price of an actual
agreement on an Austrian Treaty.
III. Even while "settlement" still only in talk phase, USSR hopes
to exploit.A.ustriansp keen desire for treaty by forcing them
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to forego links with the West through NATO or through close
ties with Donn,
A, Immediate Kremlin aim is to get very firm commitment to
neutrality from Austrian leaders in April visit to Moscow,
B, Moscow also wants right to sent troops back into Austria if'
it sees "direct threat of an Anschluss",
IV, Meanwhile, in order to convince Western Europeans of the
futility of rearming West Germany, the Soviet Union is
publicizing increase in Orbit security measures (first
announced at Moscow conference last December).
A, Soviet bloc states have announced (21 March) agreement on
a mutual aid treaty and a unified command.
1, Say these will take effect when Paris accords com-
pletely ratified,
2, Would include Soviet Union and all East European
Satellites,
Important to emphasize that such arrangement would provide
ready-made excuse formaintenance Soviet forces in Hungary
and Rumania.
1. Thus, one minor obstacle to Austrian Treaty (from Soviet
point of view) would no longer exist,
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East Germans have jumped gun and announced that completion
of ratification by Bonn has forced them to take "defense
measures" now.
1a However, previous East German statements suggest
formal creation of armed forces likely to await actual
establishment West Germany army,
Satellites announcing increases in defense spending--
Czechoslovakia (34%), Poland (12%),
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