711.61/4–3048
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Memorandum
The Secretary of State is grateful for Mr. Bevin’s message of April 30, 1948 setting forth his views on the current political situation with particular respect to relations with the Soviet Union. Mr. Marshall is in general agreement with Mr. Bevin’s clear and comprehensive analysis of the situation. The information available to the United States Government confirms the indications cited by Mr. Bevin in support of his estimate that the Soviet Government does not want war at this time. Mr. Marshall agrees that in our relations with the Soviet Union the present situation calls for a policy of patience combined with firmness, and that the greatest danger lies in the possibility of a miscalculation on the part of the Soviet Government. It was for this reason that the United States Government suggested the advisability of making clear to the Soviet Government our determination to remain in Berlin. In this connection Mr. Marshall welcomes the very clear statement of British policy on this issue which Mr. Bevin made in Parliament on May 4.
Having in mind the importance of making every effort to avoid a miscalculation on the part of the Soviet Government, the Department of State has instructed the American Ambassador in Moscow to make clear in his conversations with Soviet officials that (1) the United States Government is resolute in the pursuit of its present policies which are well known and (2) these policies threaten no legitimate Soviet interest.