740.00119 Control (Italy)/5–1245: Telegram
President Truman to the British Prime Minister (Churchill)
37. Your No. 45. I have sent to the American Ambassador in Belgrade45 the message proposed in my No. 34, corrected as suggested by you.
In regard to your suggestion that a standfast order be given to American arms in Europe, I prefer to await further developments before giving serious consideration to a further temporary continued occupation of the agreed upon Soviet zone in Germany.
It appears to me necessary that we should have a report regarding our message to Belgrade before reaching a decision on what forces to authorize for use in the event of our troops being attacked by the Yugoslavs.
Unless Tito’s forces should attack, it is impossible for me to involve this country in another war.
If Tito should take hostile action and attack our Allied forces anywhere I would expect Field Marshal Alexander to use as many troops of all nationalities in his command as are necessary.
- See telegram 86, infra. ↩