Office of the Historian

870.00/46

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Note of Conversation

Consideration has been recently given in London to the best means of preventing any divergence of policy in the Balkans between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Governments, of which disquieting signs were beginning to appear.

2.
After full review Mr. Eden concludes that the best solution would be for the United Kingdom Government to agree, as a practical matter, with the Soviet Government that since Roumania falls within the sphere of the Russian armies, Roumanian affairs should be in the main the concern of the Soviet Government; and, similarly, that since Greece is within the Allied Command under General Wilson69 in the Mediterranean, Greek affairs should vis-à-vis the Soviet Government be in the main the concern of the United Kingdom Government, each Government agreeing to give such help as they can to the other in the respective countries concerned. Such understanding between the United Kingdom Government and the Soviet Government would apply only to war conditions, and since it would be essentially related to the military operations of the respective forces of the two Governments, would in no way affect the rights and responsibilities which each of the three great powers will have to exercise at the peace settlement, and afterwards in regard to the whole of Europe.
3.
The United Kingdom Government are fully alive to the importance of avoiding action that might carry the appearance of carving up the Balkans into spheres of influence. They attach great importance to collaboration with the United States Government in the formulation and execution of Allied policy towards these countries, as elsewhere. But on the whole a temporary agreement on the lines suggested seems to them to offer the best chance of amicable cooperation in the military period between the Allies in the countries concerned, which is essential in the immediate interests of the war effort.
4.
Would the United States Government see any objection to such an agreement between the United Kingdom Government and the Soviet Government, and if not, may the United Kingdom Government so inform the Soviet Government?
Washington , May 30, 1944.
  1. Gen. Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater.↩