868.00/7–1449: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Yugoslavia 1
372. At ur discretion suggest you take early appropriate opportunity express to Yugo officials satisfaction at Tito Pola declaration on Greece.2 You might on this occasion voice hope that announced policy of closing frontier will in fact be implemented immed and that, though stated as defensive measure from Yugo viewpoint, it will lay basis for complete compliance by Yugo with GA Resolutions, including repatriation Grk children and reestablishment good neighborly relations with traditionally friendly State (both of which Resolutions were supported by Yugo as well as Cominform members).3
Believe you shld also endeavor place on Yugos burden of proving good faith their repeated declarations re cessation aid to guerrillas. For example, while polit difficulty of accepting UNSCOB observers recognized, if assertion re end guerrilla aid are true cld not Yugos agree to unpublicized tour frontier area by western reps? To minimize polit effects Yugo, such inspection might be made by US or Brit Mil Attachés Belgrade under guise routine trip.
It is not proposed you make special démarche this particular moment on Yugo-Grk relations unless you consider desirable. (We understand from Brit that Peake thinks immed démarche inopportune.) On other hand we do feel essential, without confronting Tito [Page 370] with abrupt take-it-or-leave-it proposition, that continuous pressure be exerted for modification Yugo-Grk policy, whenever occasion arises for discussion relationship between that policy and further western aid to Yugo. Also believe desirable stress advantages to Yugo of positive Yugo-Grk rapprochement. Immed steps might include resumption normal commercial relations, reopening Yugo Free Zone Salonika, and restoration Salonika-Belgrade rail communications.4
Grk Emb here states Grk Govt willing undertake immed negot these matters with Yugos and desires we indicate to Yugos our hope they will accept. We believe formal proposal for such negots shld be made by Grks, either Athens or Belgrade, but see no objection ur sounding out Yugos on subject or supporting Grk démarche if and when made.
Athens authorized give FonOff substance this tel.5
- This telegram was also sent to Athens as 1074, to London as 2440, and to Moscow as 513.↩
- See telegram 663, July 13, from Belgrade, supra.↩
- The resolutions referred to here were unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 27, 1948. For the texts of these resolutions, see United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembly, Third Session, Part I, Resolutions, 21 September–12 December 1948, pp. 19–21 or Department of State Bulletin, December 12, 1948, p. 722.↩
- During a call at the Department of State on June 22, Greek Minister Counselor Economou-Gouras (see footnote 4 to telegram 577, June 9, from Belgrade, p. 355) asked on behalf of the Greek Foreign Ministry whether it would not be appropriate for Ambassador Cannon to approach Yugoslav authorities regarding the three issues referred to here (Memorandum of conversation by Cromie, June 22: 868.00/6–2249). Greek Ambassador Dendramis was assured by the Department on June 30 that favorable consideration was being given to the Greek suggestion by competent Departmental officers (memorandum of conversation by Cromie, June 30: 868.00/6–3049).↩
- In his telegram 1401, July 19, from Athens, not printed, Ambassador Grady reported that the contents of this telegram had been conveyed to the Greek Foreign Ministry which expressed complete agreement and extreme satisfaction with the American policy as outlined (868.00/7–1949).↩