Protokolle des Ministerrates, Kabinett Figl I Bd. 9

The Edition of the Minutes of the Cabinet Meetings Figl I constitutes an important contribution to research on the early years of Austrias Second Republic and the reconstruction and renewal of the state and its political components after World War II. The minutes of the cabinet meetings have to be regarded as central source materials on this early and complex phase of the Second Republic. Volume 9 of the Edition encompasses the minutes of meeting No. 97 of January 27, 1948 to meeting No. 105 of March 23, 1948 as well as the accompanying minutes of the Wirtschaftliches Ministerkomitee from that period of time. In terms of content, the discussions between the members of government documented therein pertain to a broad thematic spectrum, dealing with matters of foreign, domestic and economic policy and reconstruction, with the difficult relations between the Austrian government and the four allied occupational forces (especially the Soviet force) as well as with various aspects and problems of every-day life during those scarce and difficult years. The various positions of the members of government on the matters at hand, open conflicts of interest as well as the developing and changing state of discussion on specific problems can be traced through the minutes. The slow progress of the ongoing deliberations on the Austrian State Treaty (one of many common threads running through all volumes of this edition) is being reflected clearly in the minutes contained in this volume. The Figl Cabinet was looking forward to a new round of deliberations on this matter, which started in London on Februar 20, 1948 and were to last until May 6, 1948. One of the main points was once again the difficult Article 35 (German Assets in Austria). As far as the larger political backdrop is concerned, the ongoing reports on these proceedings in the Council of Ministers were characterized by the continuing solidification of communist rule in Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union and its growing isolation. Specifically, the communist change of power in Czechoslovakia was a cause of concern for the Figl Cabinet. Under the impression of such unsettling developments, the Austrian government avowed itself to strong solidarity between the two ruling parties, calling for a Schulterschluss. Also of prime importance are the ever-present matters of economic reconstruction, of securing the basic level of nutrition for the Austrian and specifically the Viennese population, the European Recovery Program and the difficult dealings with the allied occupational forces. On June 24, 1947, the Austrian government had decided to participate in the European Recovery Program (the Marshallplan), but its start date as well as the final extent of the Program had not yet been determined. In the meantime, various other relief and aid programs had to be utilized to secure and uphold a constant level of sustenance. The economic and political complexities and intricacies of this time period become evident in the way those different areas intertwine, for example when transports of much-needed food supplies where hindered by Soviet authorities. Matters like these were part of almost every single cabinet meeting contained in this volume. The minutes presented in this volume also shed light on various steps undertaken by the Austrian government to once again transform Austria into a sovereign state, integrated into the international community. They also demonstrate the extent of the legislative measures necessary to achieve this. Many of these measures dealt with matters and problems which were specifically tied to the past war and the National Socialist era. Examples are claims of restitution by the Banque des Pays de lEurope Centrale in Paris, targeted at the Länderbank Wien, and the deliberations on the draft of the Bundesverfassungsgesetz, betreffend die vorzeitige Beendigung der im Nationalsozialistengesetz vorgesehenen Sühnefolgen für jugendliche Personen. As has been standard practice in the history of this Edition, the scientifically annotated minutes are complemented by a biographical index, containing detailed biographies on all relevant individuals, and thereby contributing to the research into political, social and cultural elites. Detailed geographical and subject indices are included as well as transcriptions of the Gabelsberger-shorthand notes which are the basis of the final minutes.