811.2360H/8–2246: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
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[Received August 22—2:45 p.m.]
4172. For Acheson from the Secretary. Please consult Joint Chiefs of Staff and if they agree send following to Yugoslav Embassy for delivery. Release to press when delivered.
“Referring further to your message regarding attacks upon American planes this is to advise that the service upon the Vienna–Udine Route, which for the past 48 hours has been stopped, will on Friday, August 23, be resumed.
“Our pilots will be instructed as heretofore that in flying from Klagenfurt to Hermagor they should carefully avoid getting off the route and flying over the line of Yugoslav Territory.
“Our planes will be escorted by fighter aircraft.
“If when they reach Klagenfurt, weather is such as to justify belief that planes may be forced off the route and over Yugoslav Territory, the planes will be sent back.
“If the weather does not justify such belief the planes will proceed.
“The pilots and crews will be instructed that if Yugoslav fighter planes leave their territory and enter upon the route from Klagenfurt to Hermagor they must, in the light of recent experiences, take all necessary measures to protect our planes.