The End, 1955
Last Update: August 17, 2001

Wednesday, July 27, 1955

Big Four End Austria Rule

The Big Four Powers will lower their flags on Vienna's Allied Council Building tomorrow as a sign that the four-power rule of Austria has come to an end.

Before the ceremony takes place, the council - which governed this Alpine country for 10 years - will meet for the last time to agree on the last point of its agenda - its own dissolution. The measure follows the deposition of the French ratification instrument of Austria's state treaty in Moscow, expected to be announced tomorrow morning.

The ratification instrument of the Austrian, British, Soviet and US governments already have been deposited at the Kremlin.

After the end of the brief council meeting, troops will march to Stalin Square in front of the council building to act as honor guards during the flag-lowering ceremony.

The first standard to go down will be the French tricolor, followed by the Soviet red flag, the Stars and Stripes and finally the British Union Jack as bands of the four armed forces play their country's national anthems.

At the same time, the flags of the four nations will be lowered on the imperial castle and other four-power buildings in the Austrian capital.

Thursday, July 28, 1955

Vienna Rites Hail End of Occupation

After 17 years of occupation Austria becomes a free and independent nation today.

With the delivery of France's ratification of Austria's state treaty to the Kremlin today, the treaty - signed by the Big Four on May 15 - becomes effective.

Thousands of Viennese gathered this morning in front of the Allied High Commission Building to observe the lowering of the colors of the four occupation powers. Vienna itself was bedecked with Austria's red-white-red flags.

Prior to this ceremony marking the end of Allied rule, the High Commissioners of the US, Britain, France and the Soviet Union convened in a final formal session of the Allied Council to agree on the last point of its agenda - its own dissolution.

First to arrive at Stalin Square, site of the council building, was British High Commissioner Sir Geoffrey Wallinger, followed by the Acting US High Commissioner James K. Pennfield, French High Commissioner Francis Seydoux de Clousonne and Soviet High Commissioner I. I. Ilyichev.

With the numbers of onlookers increasing, reinforcements of Austrian police appeared to maintain order.

After learning of the deposition of the French ratification document in Moscow, Federal President Theodor Koerner told the nation in a radio address:

"The final remains of the walls which separate Austria from its freedom have now fallen.

"With a unanimity which gives just cause for new hopes of the establishment of peace in the world, the great powers of the world have leveled the road for the just solution of a much-disputed problem.

"Five times solemnly affirmed, the Austrian state treaty now rests in the archives of world history.

"The promise once given to raped Austria has been kept. We Austrians also will keep our promise never to take part in a fight other than the battle for peace and justice."