FREEDOM FOR AUSTRIA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 11

FREEDOM FOR AUSTRIA

Vienna Rejoices At Soviet Offer

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) MOSCOW, April 16. Happy Austrians thronged the streets of Vienna last night rejoicing at the promise of independence and freedom for their country which Chancellor Raab’s delegation brought from Moscow. Small groups, their arms linked, roamed the city, joking and greeting strangers, who cheerfully answered their call. Dr. Raab’s return to Vienna was like the entry of a Roman emperor. It is estimated that 1,000,000 persons lined the 25 miles of road from the airport to the Chancellery. Russia has offered Austria a State treaty restoring her independence and •jrHing out all the occupation forces within eight months. Britain, France, and the United States must give their assent before any treaty can be signed, but spokesmen for the Austrian delegation in Moscow said they thought the West would agree. A communique issued after the talks indicates that Russia has now accepted

in broad outline the draft treaty originally drawn up by the Big Four in 1949, but never signed. This is known to be generally acceptable to the West. Oil for Russia Russia has agreed to hand back to Austria the Soviet-held oil refineries and oilfields in exchange for deliveries of crude oils, and has promised to return Austrian prisoners of war and civilians now detained in Russia.

These were the highlights of a joint statement initialled in Moscow after three days of negotiations. Th n main points of the agreement, following years of negotiations between East and West, and the failure of successive conferences, are, subject to the treaty entering in force: Russia has agreed that the Big Four Powers shall withdraw their occupation forces from Austria from the entry into force of a State treaty, but not later than December 31 this year. Soviet-held refineries and oilfields in Austria will be returned to Austria in exchange for deliveries of crude oil. The property of the Soviet-owned shipping line and shipyards in the city of Korneuburg, near Vienna, will be transferred to Austria. AU Austrian prisoners of war and civilians held in Russia will be returned. (These have been estimated by the Austrian Government at 353 prisoners of war and 1117 civilians.) Austria declares that she does not intend to join any military alliances or permit the establishment of military bases on her territory. The two countries also agreed to start negotiations in the near future to restore trade relations to normal