750G.00/8–2951: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy 1
990. Dept has informed Ital Chargé US Govt associates itself with Brit offer to postpone Trieste elections for two mos providing Ital Govt give assurances it will attempt enter negots with Yugo Govt [Page 243] re solution Trieste question. We pointed out to Chargé we hoped Ital Govt wld consider this proposal in light recent statement by Marshal Tito to Amb Allen that Yugo Govt most anxious settle Trieste question which remained outstanding problem in Yugo Govts relations with West and that settlement wld materially strengthen front against Cominform aggression in which Europe and all free world were interested.2 We pointed out if elections were held now they wld create an atmosphere not conducive to any negots between Italy and Yugo.
Ital Chargé stated his Govt’s objection that postponement elections made conditional on Italy’s taking initiative with Yugo. This constituted pressure on Italy with no equivalent pressure on Yugo. We pointed out that in view Tito’s remarks it wld seem initiative by no means entirely Italy’s and Tito’s statement cld provide basis for an Ital approach. We emphasized Ital Govt shld view our proposal not as pressure on Italy alone but as an effort get negots started between Yugo and Italy. We wld be prepared urge Yugo in this matter to same degree we were urging Italy. Certainly an agreement between Yugo and Italy on Trieste wld be of great value in accomplishing revision Ital Peace Treaty to which we attached urgency.
In conclusion Dept stated in announcement postponing elections there wld be no reference to these conversations with Ital Govt and that negots between Italy and Yugo Govts wld be secret. US Govt furthermore did not envisage in any way endorsement of a particular position adopted by either Italy or Yugo as regards negots themselves.