750G.00/9–551: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia ( Allen ) to the Secretary of State 1
295. Since neither Tito nor Kardelj available, I requested Beam in Belgrade to carry out step contemplated Dept’s niact to Belgrade 35.2 Beam went over with Asst FonMin Mates Secretary’s statement to Yugo Amb (Deptel 220),3 re-emphasizing as Dept’s considered opinion that settlement Trieste problem should be based on such adjustments or exchanges as are necessary establish practicable frontier (last para Rome’s 1039 to Dept, 35 to Belgrade). Obvious such full acct was not recd from Popovic, since Mates made extensive notes. Mates acceded to request on my behalf this info be communicated earliest to Marshal Tito.
Mates then furnished Beam long explanation Yugo present position. Yugo Govt agreed in principle revision Ital peace treaty necessary since present situation cld lead to obstructions and dangers for West. As repeatedly stated by Marshal Tito and by FonOff to various Amer officials, Yugo Govt willing enter into negots for Trieste settlement. It naturally understood there wld have to be give and take in negots which Yugo Govt wld not approach without flexible position.
Mates said he was officially defining this stand for info US Govt only. Without consulting higher auth he unfortunately cld not consent to its transmission to Ital Govt since latter might attribute to Yugo Govt an eagerness resume negots which Itals wld exploit to raise their demands. Not only had Yugo Govt informed US officials its willingness enter into bilateral negots re Trieste, but its past attempts proved this. Last spring negots had been begun between former Yugo Amb in Paris and Ital Amb to Vatican. Furthermore, Mates himself had engaged in convs to same end with Ital Min Belgrade. Unfortunately every time progress had been made, Ital Govt withdrew concessions. Mates said Yugo Govt sincerely desirous improving relations with Ital and he mentioned most confidentially Yugo Govt had decided send Velebit to replace present Yugo Amb Rome.
Mates said that while Yugo Govt willing any time resume negots re Trieste it was most discouraged and pessimistic about Ital polit [Page 246] atmosphere. De Gasperi Govt had let itself be drawn into competition with Commies. Togliatti during visit to Belgrade 1947 had proposed Trieste settlement to Yugo. Now Ital Commies acting naturally under Sov orders were playing extreme Ital nationalist line to prevent any settlement with Yugo. Yugo Govt felt DeGasperi shld clearly expose Communist duplicity instead of putting himself out in front of Ital Communist demands re Trieste. He said it impossible believe that even if Trieste settlement concluded on most favorable Ital terms Ital Communist Party wld cease trying stir up trouble between Italy and Yugo. Yugo Govt cld not ignore recent vicious statements De Gasperi’s own paper Il Popolo4 that Yugo had in effect attacked Italy during last war. Accordingly while Yugo Govt wished negot Trieste settlement it was pessimistic about prospects as long as present extremist line pursued by Ital Govt parties. Mates expressed appreciation Secys interest in Trieste and said Yugo Amb Wash or FonOff here wld always be prepared continue discussion further with US.
Beam referred again Secy’s statement he intended talk equally frankly to Ital reps stressing our feeling settlement shld be achieved in larger West interest. He inquired whether US Govt cld not at least inform Itals it had reason believe Yugo Govt wld be amenable to resumption negots. Mates replied while conv had provided much material of interest, he cld not give consent without ref higher auth. He recalled Marshal Tito had recently made statement to press that Yugo might be ready engage in staff convs neighboring free countries in interest of all to repel aggression whereupon Grks had raised conditions under which they wld consider accepting Yugo mil cooperation. Mates again asked that frank discussion Tito held with me and with Harriman5 re Trieste be kept for US Govt’s info only.
Comment:
Above statements seemed clearly intended persuade us soften up Ital attitude. Yugo Govt feeling it has made contribution in convincing us it is willing discuss Trieste. Rightly or wrongly, they feel Ital Govt and press statements place them in strong moral position in light our urging both sides adopt reasonable attitude. However, Yugo Govt obviously impressed by honesty our dealings with them, particularly non-disclosure to Itals of Tito’s various statements. If Dept can make some progress with Itals it is not impossible Yugos [Page 247] may consent give us some guarded words to communicate to Itals shld we formally request them either here or in Wash.
- Repeated to Rome, London, Trieste, and Paris.↩
- This is a reference to telegram 1039 from Rome, repeated to Belgrade as telegram 35, September 1, summarized in footnote 4, Document 109.↩
- Not printed, but see ibid.↩
- Il Popolo is the newspaper of the Christian Democrat Party.↩
- For a summary of Harriman’s conversation with Tito on August 25, see telegram 1058 from London, Document 954.↩