Office of the Historian

860H.00/2–1449: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Yugoslavia

secret
Washington, February 14, 1949—6 p. m.

69. Will appreciate comments Emb Belgrade and Vatican on suggestion here that might be possible intimate to Tito advantageous effect which would result release Archbishop Stepinac now.1 This regard, noted House has passed concurrent Resolution condemning Hung and Yugo authorities in Mindszenty and Stepinac cases and urging US Govt take action, including possible reference UN, connection both.2

Sent Belgrade, Rome for Amvat.3

Acheson
  1. A memorandum of February 9 by Marshall S. Carter, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State, not printed, indicates that the “suggestion” under reference here was made by Congressman John McCormack of Massachusetts during a telephone conversation with the Secretary (860H.00/2–949).↩
  2. For documentation regarding the concern of the United States over the arrest, trial, and conviction of Jószef Cardinal Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Primate of Hungary, see pp. 451 ff. For the text of the resolution under reference here, unanimously agreed to by the House of Representatives on February 9, see Department of State Bulletin, February 20, 1949, p. 231.↩
  3. This telegram was repeated to Vatican City as Amvat 6.↩