Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

740.0011 EW (Peace)/11—1749: Telegram

The Minister in Hungary (Davis)¹ to the Secretary of State

confidential

Budapest, November 17, 1949—noon.

1294. Legtel 1293, November 16.² To preserve principle dispute exists when one party so states, suggest I be authorized reply Soviet note pointing out Article 40 treaty provides for reference to three heads mission New York [any?] dispute concerning interpretation or execution treaty “which is not settled by direct diplomatic negotiations” (not which cannot be settled); stating I, therefore, believe three heads should meet to hear reasoning behind Soviet thesis which obviously unacceptable as mere undocumented ex-party statement. Moreover, it is one properly to be expounded at such meeting, and if found good by the three heads, then referred to interested parties for their views:

British Minister telegraphing his government similar sense adding recommendation he call meeting his office specific time.³

Am informing Yugoslav Minister gist Soviet note adding only matter referred department for instruction.⁴

Sent Department 1294; repeated London 45; Belgrade 72.

Davis

1. Nathaniel P. Davis presented his credentials and assumed charge as United States Minister in Hungary on October 21, 1949.
2. Not printed. It reported that a note had just been received from the Soviet Embassy in Budapest acknowledging the American Legation note of October 4 (see telegram 605, October 1, to Budapest, p. 265 and footnote 4 thereto) and stating that the Soviet Government considered that Hungary and Yugoslavia had not exhausted the possibilities of solving their dispute by way of direct negotiations. The Soviet Government therefore could see no grounds for applying the procedure provided for in article 40 of the treaty of peace with Hungary (740.0011 EW (Peace)/11–1649).
3. Telegram 4640, November 21, from London, not printed, reported that the British Foreign Office concurred in the action proposed in the message printed here (740.0011 EW (Peace)/11–2149).
4. Telegram 677, November 18, to Budapest, not printed, stated that the Department of State approved the action proposed here, subject to British concurrence (740.0011 EW (Peace)/11–1749).