No. 684
Editorial Note
United States relations with Yugoslavia during the period September-December 1953 primarily involved the dispute between Italy and Yugoslavia over Trieste. At the end of August 1953 the Italian Government, allegedly fearing an imminent Yugoslav annexation of Zone B of the Free Territory of Trieste, moved troops to the Italo-Yugoslav border. During September the United States, along with Great Britain and France, made various efforts to persuade the Italian and the Yugoslav Governments to avoid armed conflict. On October 8, 1953, the United States and the United Kingdom announced their intention to transfer administration of Zone A of the Free Territory of Trieste to Italy. This announcement provoked a violent reaction in Yugoslavia, which included attacks against the personnel and facilities of the United States Information Service in Belgrade. The Yugoslav Government also sent troops to the Italian border and announced that they would fight if necessary to prevent Italy from taking over control of Zone A. The Western powers did not follow through on their announced intention of transferring administrative control of Zone A to Italy, and in December both Yugoslavia and Italy withdrew their troops from the border. For documentation regarding these events, see Documents 93 ff.
[Page 1365]During the crisis over Trieste in the fall of 1953, plans to follow up on the tripartite military talks with Yugoslavia, held in Washington August 24–28, 1953, were in abeyance.