Editorial Note
Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs George W. Perkins was in Europe during much of February, principally to serve as chairman of the Eastern European Chiefs of Mission Conference at Paris, January 30–February 2, and the Western European Ambassadors’ Conference at Frankfurt, February 5–7. The United States Ambassador in Yugoslavia, George V. Allen, did not attend the Eastern European Chiefs of Mission Conference because, as he explained in telegram 793 from Belgrade, December 29, 1950, he wanted to avoid the inference that Yugoslavia was in the same category as the other Cominform countries. (120.4351/12–2851) The conferees at Paris did not discuss the Yugoslav situation but they did agree that their observations did not suggest the imminence of an outbreak of military hostilities in their areas.
The general situation in Yugoslavia and in particular Yugoslavia’s ability to resist an attack was discussed at some length by the Western European Ambassadors at Frankfurt. The Ambassadors agreed that it was important to support Yugoslavia, to urge the allies of the United States to provide maximum aid to Yugoslavia, and to evolve alternative plans of action in the event of an emergency. For documentation on the Western European Ambassadors Conference, see Documents 74 ff.; regarding the Eastern European Chiefs of Mission Conference, see Document 610.
Before returning to the United States, Assistant Secretary of State Perkins visited Vienna on February 11–12, Belgrade on February 13–14 (see telegram 1101 from Belgrade, Document 861), and London on February 15–16.