F.W. 865.014/4–1547
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State
No. 1257
Moscow, May 12,
1947.
The Officer in Charge refers to Deptel
1089 April 28, 1947,1
Embtel 1728 May 11, 1947,2 and has the honor to transmit for the
records of the Department the following copies of correspondence
exchanged between the Embassy and the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in this connection:
Two copies of the translation of a letter from Deputy Foreign
Minister Vyshinski to Ambassador Smith, dated May 6, 1947.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Soviet Union (Vyshinsky) to the
American Ambassador (Smith)
[Enclosure—Translation]
Dear Mr. Ambassador: I acknowledge receipt
of your letter of April 30 regarding the delimitation of the
frontiers of the Free Territory of Trieste. I have the honor to
inform you herewith that in as much as the frontiers of the Free
Territory of Trieste are defined and described in Articles 4 and 22
of the Peace Treaty with Italy, the Soviet Government considers that
the exact lines of the new frontiers between the Free Territory of
Trieste and Italy and also between the Free Territory of Trieste and
Yugoslavia should be defined on the spot by frontier commissions
consisting of representatives of the two interested Governments.
[Page 76]
The Soviet Government considers furthermore that actions of
representatives of the Four Powers or of competent Allied Military
Authorities on the spot cannot be regarded as actions of
representatives of the Free Territory of Trieste, all the more so,
as the temporary Government Council of the Free Territory of Trieste
has not yet been formed.
In view of the above stated considerations, the Soviet Government
regards as inopportune the fixing of the beginning of the work of
the commission for the delimitation of the above frontiers.
With regard to the procedure for the definition of the lines to which
the Yugoslav and the Italian troops may move after ratification of
the Peace Treaty with Italy, the Soviet Government after due
consideration of this question will forward its ideas.
The Soviet Government’s point of view in this matter has been
communicated to the English and French Embassies in Moscow.
Accept [etc.]
