Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

868.00/9–1749: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State

secret

Paris, September 17, 1949—3 p. m.

3837. Deptel 3204, August 29.¹ While cool from the start to whole conception of tripartite démarche to Albanians, on whose timeliness and efficacy they entertain real doubts, French are willing to associate themselves with US and UK in note to be delivered by French Minister, Tirana. General atmosphere in Foreign Office is “if you really feel strongly about it we will not stand in your way.”

Regarding text, Foreign Office considers draft in Deptel satisfactory through third sentence of paragraph 2 ending “reentry into Greece” although they think it would be useful to include some reference to recent Albanian declaration regarding internment and disarming of guerrillas. They object to final sentence second paragraph on grounds it holds forth unrealizable promise of rewards. Their thinking in this respect follows that of British as reported in London’s 3538.² They object to last paragraph as repetitive and superfluous.

French Embassy Washington fully instructed and will presumably present note.³

Sent Department 3837, repeated London 634, Athens 56.

Bruce

1. Same as telegram 3099, August 29, to London, p. 392.
2. Ante, p. 398.
3. The French Embassy note anticipated here has not been found in the files of the Department of State.