Date

May 24, 1956

Description

With the Statute nearly approved, selecting the physical location for the new agency became highly salient. The major choices were between Geneva, where UN organizations were already located, and Vienna. Austria already had support from other governments and, according to Elbrick, "Significant political factors ... favor active U.S. support for Vienna and ... make it extremely difficult to oppose Vienna (probably unsuccessfully) in the face of the strong campaign which is being waged in its behalf." Among the considerations in Austria's favor was that, its neutral alignment notwithstanding, it was "overwhelmingly anti-Communist and pro-western." Moreover, unlike Switzerland, Austria was a UN member and the "The Austrian Government is so keen to have the IAEA located in Vienna that it is prepared to spare no effort to make available all facilities desired." It was not until February 1957, however, that the Agency's Preparatory Commission, chose Vienna as the site for the headquarters.

Source

RG 59, Central Decimal Files, 1955-1959, 398.1901-IAEA/5-2456

Document published in following posting(s):

60th Anniversary of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Oct 26, 2017

[Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs C. Burke] Elbrick to [Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Robert] Murphy, "Austrian Interest in Selection of Vienna as Permanent Site for IAEA," 24 May 1956, Confidential [Referenced telegrams not attached]