Geoffrey Wallinger


Sir Geoffrey Arnold Wallinger was a British diplomat who was envoy to Hungary and ambassador to Thailand, Austria and Brazil. He was a signatory of the treaty that ended the occupation of Austria following World War II.

Career

Wallinger was educated at Sherborne School and Clare College, Cambridge. He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1926 and served at Cairo, Vienna, Pretoria and Cape Town, Buenos Aires and Nanking as well as at the Foreign Office.
Wallinger was Minister to Hungary 1949–51 and Ambassador to Thailand 1951–54. He was appointed Ambassador to Austria in 1954, but served as High Commissioner until Austria was released from Allied occupation; during that time he completed the negotiations of, and signed, the Austrian Independence Treaty of May 1955. He remained in Vienna as Ambassador until 1958. He was then Ambassador to Brazil 1958–63.

Honours

Wallinger was appointed in 1947, knighted KCMG in the 1953 Coronation Honours, and awarded the additional, senior knighthood of GBE in the 1963 New Year Honours.