860S.00/6–945
The Chairman of the Council of Peoples Commissars of the Soviet Union (Stalin) to President Truman
Thank you for your second message64 on the question of Istria–Trieste. I have also acquainted myself with the note of Mr. Harriman65 which outlines the proposals of the Government of the United States and Great Britain to the Government of Yugoslavia regarding the settlement of the situation in this region.
From your communication it can be understood that an agreement in principle has been reached between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain on one side and the Government of Yugoslavia on the other, on the question of establisment on the territory of Trieste–Istria of an Allied military administration under the guidance of the Allied Commander in Chief on the Mediterranean Sea. However, it seems to me that for complete settlement of the present situation in Trieste–Istria an agreement should likewise be reached with the Yugoslav Government on the concrete proposals of the Governments of the United States and Great Britain as well.
[Page 1182]I hope that after the statement of the Government of Yugoslavia about its agreement to the establishment of an Allied military administration on the territory of Trieste–Istria there will be no obstacles for the Yugoslav interests to be duly satisfied and that the whole question about the present tension in the region of Trieste–Istria will be happily settled.