Defense Files: Telegram
The Commanding General of the British and United States Forces in Trieste (Airey) to the Combined Chiefs of Staff
G 1–010 (Taf 11) 1. On instances when Jugoslav tps have come in contact with Anglo-American posts on the provisional FTT boundary, junior Jugoslav commanders have threatened, if the boundary was not adjusted to their liking within an allotted time, the use of force. For similar cases which have occurred on the provisional Italo-Jugoslav boundary see Taf 2 para 3 and Taf 4 para 6.1 To date, we have been [Page 101] able to maintain our position in these eases without bloodshed by virtue of a display of firmness and good sense on the part of the allied tps involved.
2. The customary action of delivering ultimatums on a bn and coy level is exceedingly dangerous. In connection with this, it should be remembered that the boundary posts are sited according to the interpretation of the French line and not in relation to their suitability for defence. The tps under my command are exposed to considerable danger under the maintenance of the integrity of the British-US Zone of the Free Territory.
3. I recommend therefore that the following urgent diplomatic action should be taken:
- a.
- To urge the Jugoslav Government to issue orders to its tps forbidding the issue of local ultimatums on the grounds that such an action is danger to peace.
- b.
- To request that all disputes be referred for arbitration either with the Allied Military authorities here, or at such higher level as you may think fit. I consider that there is little possibility of reaching any further agreement through the medium of the existing boundary commission. I suggest that the Jugoslav Govern[ment] should be urged to accept the provisional boundary as at present occupied pending the decision of the Commission to be appointed under article 5 of the treaty of peace with Italy.
- c.
- To protest against the incidents cited in Part 1.2
- Neither printed.↩
- In telegram 628, September 20, not printed, Ambassador Cannon was directed, in concert with his British colleague, to deliver a strong protest against the irresponsible Yugoslav actions in presenting ultimatums to local Allied military commanders; to insist that future matters of local dispute be discussed with General Airey; and to emphasize that General Airey had been instructed to maintain the provisional line as the de facto boundary until the definitive delineation in accord with the treaty (860S.00/9–2047).↩