124.60H/12–1344: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Kirk), to the Secretary of State
Caserta, December
13, 1944—1 p.m.
[Received 7:17 p.m.]
[Received 7:17 p.m.]
1723–A. Re my 1510, November 26.7 Thayer at Belgrade has sent an urgent message to OSS here stating that it was most desirable to send one or two Foreign Service Officers to Belgrade as soon as possible for protection of American interests and in order to make administrative arrangements for eventual reestablishment of our diplomatic mission there. I trust that Department will be able to give me some information regarding this matter at an early date.
Sent Department, repeated London as 181 for Patterson.
Kirk
- Not printed; it recommended, on the basis of reports received from the Office of Strategic Services, that the United States Government delay no further in sending official representatives to Yugoslavia. He pointed out that the British were already taking steps to reestablish their representation at Belgrade. Mr. Kirk felt that the value of Bari as a listening post was rapidly diminishing and he suggested that the staff there be sent to Belgrade to assume the protection of American interests and to reopen the United States Embassy. (740.00119 Control (Yugoslavia)/11–2644)↩