763.72119/3247
The British Chargé ( Barclay ) to the Acting Secretary of State
Memorandum
His Britannic Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires presents his compliments to the Acting Secretary of State and has the honour to inform him that a note from the Austrian Government has been communicated to the Foreign Office by the Swedish Minister in London, stating that the Commandant of the Jugo-Slav troops in Carinthia has announced his intention of moving to Klagenfurt, and of quartering Jugo-Slav troops in other parts of Carinthia. In the opinion of the Austrian Government this will inevitably lead to disorders, and they have made a request for the neutralization of the territory in question, asking at the same time that American troops may be quartered at Villach and Klagenfurt. It should be stated that the area affected is of course outside the terms of the armistice with Austria.
It is understood that a similar note has also been addressed to the United States Government.16
His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires is directed to state that His Majesty’s Government would be grateful for an expression of the views of the United States Government on this matter, and he is also directed [Page 202] to indicate that His Majesty’s Government entirely agree with the view of the United States Government that such questions should be addressed to all the Allies. His Majesty’s Government consider that the French and Italian Governments should also be consulted before the matter is finally decided.
- See telegram No. 163, Dec. 10, 1018, 5 p.m., to Colonel House, supra. ↩