Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

840.811/8–348: Telegram

The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Cannon) to the Secretary of State

secret

Belgrade, August 3, 1948—7 p. m.

Deldu 30. Today’s meeting of Danube conference was taken up entirely by Peake’s reply to Vyshinski’s Saturday speech (Deldu 23 August 1) and latter’s rejoinder.

Peake’s strongly worded statement took up series of legal points made by Vyshinski, giving Britain’s view that 1921 convention still in force not invalidated by conclusion Sinaia and Bucharest agreements of 1938 and 1939. Peake stoutly denied charge of issuing ultimatums and, subject imperialism, mentioned fifty-fifty companies and Soviet conduct at present conference, asking latter to judge which was the imperialist power in Danube area. Speech was levelled at Vyshinski personally and contained statement that UKDel would never dance to the crack of latter’s whip.

In noticeable change of tactics Vyshinski, replied at length on legal points, but angry torrents insulting language of his earlier statements were less in evidence, although Peake’s speech seemed destined to provoke just such a reaction. He closed with remark that conference would judge what power could properly be charged with treating Balkan states as cook deals with potatoes.¹

Now that rules of procedure and acrimonious Peake-Vyshinski exchange are out of way, general debate on convention will begin tomorrow when Vyshinski introduces Soviet draft. As fourth speaker following USSR, Yugoslavia and Czech, I intend to make general exposition of U.S. policy stressing our firm view that interests of nonriparian states must be adequately represented on proposed Danube commission.

Sent Department. Department pass Moscow, Bucharest, Budapest, Sofia, Vienna, London, Paris, Geneva, Prague, Berlin.

Cannon

1. In an unnumbered telegram from the Embassy in London on August 7, 1948, 4:50 p. m., a summary of an editorial on this incident which appeared in the Milwaukee Journal on August 4 was sent to the Embassy in Belgrade. The editorial described how Vyshinsky had accused the British of treating Danubian states in the manner that a cook would treat potatoes. Sir Charles Peake commented that this was “a vivid and homely phrase,’ but I ask you who is cook here.” At this, Vyshinsky puffed out his chest and, pointing to himself, retorted vastly pleased, “We shall see who is cook and who are potatoes.”