Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume V

76011.61/4–945: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman ) to the Secretary of State

Moscow , April 9, 1945—8 p.m.
[Received April 9—4:50 p.m.]

1099. Vyshinski⁵² requested me to call this afternoon. He referred to Marshal Tito’s presence in Moscow and requested me to inform my Government that the Yugoslav Government had proposed to the Soviet Government that a treaty similar to the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of May 1942⁵³ or the Czechoslovak Treaty of December 1943,⁵⁴ be concluded between the two Governments. The Soviet Government had replied favorably to the Yugoslav proposal and the treaty in question was now being drawn up.

In reply to my question Vyshinski stated that there would be no conflict between the proposed Yugoslav-Soviet Treaty and the World Organization as both were directed against aggression.

He, however, dodged my further question as to whether the treaty would contain a specific provision similar to the British Treaty which would bring it within the scope of a World Organization by comparing it again with the Czech Treaty.

I inquired whether Mr. Vyshinski could give me any information on other matters being discussed with Tito. He replied that he was unable to do so since he was working only on the above-mentioned question.

Harriman

52. Audrey Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky, First Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.
53. Treaty of Alliance in the War against Hitlerite Germany and Her Associates in Europe, and Collaboration and Mutual Assistance Thereafter, signed at London on May 26, 1942. For text, see League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. iv, p. 353; also telegrams 2897 of May 24, and 2922 of May 26, from London, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. iii, pp. 558 and 564, respectively.
54. Treaty of Friendship, Mutual Assistance, and Postwar Collaboration, with Protocol, between the Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Republic, signed at Moscow on December 12, 1943; for text, see British and Foreign State Papers, vol. cxlv, p. 238, or Department of State, Documents and State Papers (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1948), vol. i, p. 228. In regard to the negotiation of this treaty, see Foreign Relations, 1943, vol.iii, pp. 670–734, passim.