660H.6131/10: Telegram
The Minister in Yugoslavia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:11 p.m.]
136. My telegram 125, April 18, 4 p.m.2 A Foreign Office official stated to me today that the commercial negotiations with the Soviet Government will result in formal recognition; that the decision to [Page 464] normalize relations had been taken in 1939, but that because of the war in Finland it was considered advisable to defer action so as not to irritate unduly the British and French. Furthermore Yugoslavia had been handicapped because other Balkan States had official relations with the Soviets. He specifically mentioned that Yugoslavia did not wish Bulgaria to have this advantage.
Repeated to Moscow, Rome, and Paris.
- Not printed.↩