868.00/3–2249
Informal Memorandum by the Department of State to the British Embassy 1
secret
[Washington, undated.]
- 1.
- With reference to the paper handed to Mr. Thompson by Mr. Dennis [Denis] Allen on March 17, 1949, the Department of State has likewise received reports of alleged Russian troop movements and other military activities in the Balkans, which have been accompanied in some instances by similar rumors of satellite military movements near the frontiers of Yugoslavia. These reports are so far preponderantly unconfirmed.
- 2.
- The Department of State concurs in the views expressed in Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the paper referred to above.
- 3.
- The Department also concurs in the view of the British Government, expressed in Paragraph 4, that representations at Sofia at this time would serve no useful purpose.
- 4.
- The Department also doubts the advisability of acting on the suggestion, mentioned in Paragraph 4 of the Embassy’s paper as being under consideration by the Foreign Office, that some public statement on the Macedonian situation be made. It believes that such a move at this stage would only abet the Soviet war of nerves without bringing compensating advantages.
- 5.
- The Greek Government has advised the American Ambassador in Athens that it will shortly present a memorandum setting forth the Greek Government’s views on the Macedonian question and requesting the comments of the United States Government. It is understood that a similar memorandum will also be presented to the British Government.
- According to a memorandum by William O. Baxter, Assistant Chief of the Division of Greek, Turkish, and Iranian Affairs, not printed, the Department views contained in this paper were first transmitted orally to British Embassy Counselor Allen. Subsequently Office of European Affairs Deputy Director Thompson decided to commit those views to paper in the same informal manner in which the British Embassy had committed its views. This paper appears to have been prepared on March 22 (868.00/3–2249).↩