Office of the Historian
No. 90

750G.00/1–1851: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States Political Adviser at Trieste 1

secret
Washington, January 18, 1951—5 p.m.

368. Brit Emb informs Dept FonOff in response Dept’s views as outlined Deptel 322, Dec 29,2 strongly supports Gen Airey in his [Page 216] desire to make early public announcement re Zone A elections and hopes Dept will withdraw proposal announcement be postponed until last possible moment required by election order. FonOff believes Dept’s proposal impracticable in view Gen Airey’s intentions individual communes will be free hold elections on dates selected by communal councils; does not believe announcement wld limit AMG’s freedom of maneuver or that of US or UK if later events render elections unnecessary.3

In circumstances Dept informing Brit Emb will defer to FonOff views on understanding that Gen Airey’s announcement will be along lines that elections will be held this year in accordance election order and that if reference to dates is included, will be statement that individual communal councils will select dates within specified limit, if FonOff desires limit to be set.4

If Gen Airey makes announcement report full text Dept.5

Acheson
  1. Drafted by Greene and cleared with Colladay, Byington, EE, and UNP; repeated to Rome and Belgrade.↩
  2. Telegram 322 stated the Department of State position that it was willing to leave to General Airey’s discretion the questions of timing and arrangements for the administrative elections in Zone A but felt that he should avoid making a public commitment that the elections would be held within a designated period of time. (750G.00/12–2950)↩
  3. The British Embassy informed the Department of State of its position on January 15; a record of this meeting is in file 750G.00/1–1551.↩
  4. The British Embassy was informed of the Department of State position on these matters on January 19. (Memorandum of conversation, 750G.00/1–1951)↩

  5. As instructed, Unger reported to the Department of State that the following announcement would be released by the AMG on January 26:

    “Zone Commander announces that communal elections will be held British/US Zone, FTT, during 1951 accordance with regulations which will be published by Allied Military Government. He has instructed zone president inform all present elected communal councils that they should arrange to complete elections their communes not later than 31 December 1951.” (Telegram 411 from Trieste, January 26, 750G.00/1–2651)

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