870.00/7–144
The Soviet Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
On May 5, 1944 in a conversation with the Soviet Ambassador at London, Mr. F. T. Gousev, on the Roumanian and Greek questions Mr. Eden stated that the British Government considers the Soviet Government as leading in the Roumanian affairs and that Roumania is the sphere of activities of the U.S.S.R. Mr. Eden also stated that, on its part, the British Government considers itself as leading in the Greek affairs, and considers Greece its sphere of activities. Mr. Eden expressed, besides, the wish of the British Government that England and the U.S.S.R. assist each other in this matter.
In reply to this statement of Mr. Eden on May 18, 1944 Mr. F. T. Gousev, on instructions of the Soviet Government, has made an oral statement to Mr. Eden, in which he informed him that the Soviet Government agrees in principle with the stated point of view of the British Government but, before giving a final reply on the question raised, the Soviet Government would like to know whether the Government of the United States has been informed of the point of view of Great Britain, and if it has been informed does it have any objections against this point of view.
Since in his latest statement of June 19, 1944 Mr. Eden has informed the Soviet Ambassador at London, that in respect to the leading role in the Roumanian affairs and the leading role of Great Britain in Greek affairs the Government of the United States as well as the Government of Great Britain are proceeding from the fact that the British proposal should refer only to military conditions [Page 129] and that the Government of the United States expresses certain fear that this plan should not go beyond the limit of the present circumstances and should not bring about the division of the Balkan countries into spheres of influence, and it was suggested to set a three months trial, after which the said question should be again considered by our three Governments,—the Soviet Government deems it necessary to subject this matter to additional study. The Soviet Government has in mind, besides, to ascertain whether the realization of such a proposal would introduce anything new into the already formed actual situation. The Soviet Government has also informed the British Government that it considers it expedient to get in touch directly with the Government of the United States so as to get better acquainted with its point of view on this question, as until this time that question will not yet become subject of Soviet-American discussion.
The Soviet Government would be grateful to the Government of the United States for informing its point of view on the given matter.