740.0011 European War 1939/8354

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Aide-Mémoire

His Majesty’s Ambassador17 has been instructed to inform the United States Government in confidence that the Turkish Government have recently invited the Yugoslav Government to start conversations with a view to deciding on common action in the face of possibilities arising from German troop concentrations in Roumania or of German pressure, infiltration or attack on one or more of the Balkan States. The Yugoslav Government have as yet only made a very half-hearted response to this invitation and His Majesty’s Minister at Belgrade has been instructed to try to induce them to send satisfactory instructions to their Ambassador at Angora so as to enable conversations to proceed.

His Majesty’s Government feel that it would be most helpful if the United States Government could see their way to instructing their representatives at Belgrade and Angora to encourage the Yugoslav and Turkish Governments to follow up this initial effort.

  1. Viscount Halifax.