740.0011 EW/7–2045: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Yugoslavia (Shantz)53
220. Your tels 295 and 300, July 20 and 21. Please inform Foreign Office, with reference to its communications of July 18 and 19, that the United States Government has given most urgent consideration to the views of the Yugoslav Government in regard to the situation described in those communications and welcomes the implication contained in the communication from the Yugoslav Government of July 18 that the matter should be resolved on an amicable basis in accordance with the principles of international law. The United States Government is prepared to recommend the appointment of a commission composed of military and political representatives drawn from the present staffs of the American, British and Soviet missions in Belgrade and the American and British missions in Athens to investigate charges of violations by the Greek Government in Greek Macedonia of the principles of international law laid down in the Atlantic Charter, the Declaration by United Nations and the Charter of the United Nations and to submit recommendations for acceptance by the two governments concerned. It would be necessary for the Soviet Government to appoint a special group to collaborate with the group drawn from the American and British missions in Athens. The Government of the United States is consequently inquiring of the British and Soviet Governments whether they would be disposed to join with the United States in this manner and will communicate further with the Yugoslav Government in the premises in due course.
Meanwhile, the United States Government expects that neither the Yugoslav Government nor the Greek Government, which is being similarly informed, will take any unilateral action which might further complicate the situation.
Sent to Belgrade and repeated to Athens.
- Repeated to Athens as telegram 755. In telegram 754, July 28, 1945, the Department instructed the Ambassador in Greece to inform the Greek Government of the contents of this note (760H.68/7–2345). Repeated in substance on July 31 in telegrams 1710 to Moscow and 6375 to London, with instruction that “US Govt will accordingly appreciate indication by Govt to which you are accredited as to whether that Govt is prepared to collaborate with US Govt in conducting such investigation and making recommendations to Yugo and Greek Govts. It would, of course, be necessary for Soviet Govt to appoint special group to collaborate with group drawn from US and Brit missions in Athens.… For your info this matter was submitted to SecState at Potsdam and he concurs in this course of action …” (808.00/7–3145) The Secretary of State was informed of this course of action in telegram 167, July 31, Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, p. 1076.↩