Office of the Historian

750G.00/8–2554: Telegram

No. 246
The Ambassador in Italy (Luce) to the Department of State1
top secret
Rome, August 25, 1954—8 p.m.

771. Eyes only Secretary. On balance while there might be some advantage re Trieste in suggestion that you let Yugoslavs know that you might visit their country later this year, I believe that possible disadvantages outweigh the advantages. If it should leak [Page 507] out that suggestion had been made we probably would be required to inform Italians that proposal was contingent upon a Trieste settlement and if by chance Trieste should not be settled you might have to abandon idea of trip, which probably would cause serious resentment in Belgrade. Therefore, while it would obviously be advantageous in US interests that you visit Belgrade, I recommend that no approach be made until after Trieste is settled one way or other when the matter can again be examined.

Luce
  1. Repeated for information to Belgrade eyes only for Riddleberger and London eyes only for Thompson.↩