Office of the Historian

860S.00/7–1349: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy

restricted
Washington, July 13, 1949—6 p. m.

1499. For urinfo, at his press conference this morning Secy was asked whether, in view Tito statement1 Yugo wld never agree return of FTT Italy, US still favored return. Secy replied in affirmative; that US position remained as stated Mar 20 proposal.

Sent Rome 1499; rpt Trieste 301, Belgrade 368, Paris 2544, London 2430, USUN 361.

Acheson

  1. On July 10 Marshal Tito delivered a major speech at Pula (Pola), Slovenia in which he reviewed all of Yugoslavia’s major foreign policy problems including Carinthia, Trieste, Greece, relations with the USSR and the satellites, and relations with the West. For extracts from that speech see Carlyle, Documents on International Affairs, 1948–1949, pp. 459–460.

    In telegram 663, July 13, from Belgrade, Ambassador Cannon offered some critical comment on Tito’s speech, and stated in regard to Trieste:

    “There was no hollowness here in contrast Carinthian question. Insistence on Italian and Yugoslav views being given consideration and no unilateral action taken reflects Yugoslav anxiety lest Four-Power agreement again sacrifices Yugoslav interest in FTT. Also implicit is idea that problem susceptible of solution by Yugoslav-Italo accord.” (760H.00/7–1349)

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