Office of the Historian

C.F.M. Files: Lot M–88: Box 2094: Italy No. 7

The Soviet Minister for Foreign Affairs (Molotov) to the Italian Ambassador to the Soviet Union (Quaroni)50

[Translation]
New York, November 18, 1946.

Dear Mr. Ambassador: In connection with your letter of November 11, I have the honor to inform you that the Soviet Government looks with favor on the proposal of Marshal Tito, which you have mentioned, and on the direct conversations between Italy and Yugoslavia concerning the regulating of the questions concerning the Italian-Yugoslav frontier and concerning Trieste. The Soviet Government considers that since the Italian-Yugoslav conversations may lead to a solution of these questions in a spirit of agreement and of a reestablishment of normal relations between Italy and Yugoslavia and since a solution of these questions may be approved by the Council of Foreign Ministers for inclusion in the peace treaty with Italy, the results of such a type of direct Italian-Yugoslav conversations will contribute to a strengthening of peace in Europe which also will be in the interests of the United Nations.

Please, Mr. Ambassador, etc.

M. Molotov

  1. Copy transmitted to Secretary Byrnes under cover of a note of November 18, 1946, from Foreign Minister Molotov.

    Ambassador Quaroni was serving as the head of the Italian Delegation in New York in connection with the meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

    Telegram 4232, November 15, from Rome, not printed, transmitted the text of a declaration by Foreign Minister Molotov in New York on November 12 regarding possible direct Italian-Yugoslav negotiations which had been published in the newspaper Unità:

    “Soviet Delegation holds that negotiations between Yugoslavia and Italy involve question on which govts of these two states must decide. We will not intervene in such question. If Soviet Delegation were asked what its attitude would be with regard to direct negotiations between Yugoslavia and Italy, I would have to say that we were favorable to such negotiations if they led to a result acceptable to the two parties. This would facilitate our work and would serve cause of peace in that part of Europe. I repeat, however, that what is involved is question concerning which Italian and Yugoslav Govts must make their own decisions. We must not let our work depend upon these negotiations.” (760H.65/11–1546)

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