Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

875.00/3–2246: Telegram

Mr. Homer M. Byington, Jr., Acting United States Political Adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, to the Secretary of State

top secret
us urgent

Caserta, March 22, 1946—7 p.m.
[Received March 22—5 p.m.]

350. Reference our 329 of March 18, noon.²⁷ COS²⁸ requested me to see him this a.m. together with my British colleague²⁹ concerning withdrawal of BMM from Albania. General McLeod said that messages which he had received from Arnot³⁰ had become increasingly alarming in re to personal safety of Mission and Brigadier Hodgson had also strongly recommended that BMM be removed without further delay.

General McLeod said that Broad recommended AFHQ action be correlated with US action in Albania and that he himself did not like to take prior action but he felt that this may be necessary.

I said that Jacobs had already explained to Dept that situation BMM was different from his own (see Juranat’s) [Tirana’s?] 85 of March 13, 3 p.m.) and I was sure that Dept would in no way wish safety of BMM to be jeopardized merely in order to obtain joint action vis-à-vis Albania. I said this, of course, was my personal opinion but that I would telegraph immediately requesting Dept’s views in this matter.

General McLeod has telegraphed WarOff that BMM situation has become most uncomfortable and it is possible hostile demonstrations may occur against it. Arnot has also received a report confirming his fear that an attempt may be made to implicate BMM in the political trials now proceeding this report is that interrogation of accused “has revealed that the British General not only supported these traitors but organized their movements”.

In conclusion General McLeod is urging that WarOff consult urgently with Foreign Office and authorize immediate withdrawal of BMM. He is including my views as expressed above, and adding that I am requesting urgent instructions.

Please advise me as soon as possible in order that I may communicate Dept’s views to AFHQ.³¹

Sent Dept, repeated Tirana via pouch as 38.

Byington

27. Not printed; it reported that the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, General Morgan, was waiting to see what action would be taken in the case of the American Mission in Albania before reaching a final decision entirely to withdraw the British Military Mission from Albania (875.00/3–1846).
28. Maj. Gen. M. W. M. Macleod, Chief of Staff, Allied Force Headquarters.
29. Philip Broad, British Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater.
30. Maj. E. Maxwell Arnot.
31. In telegram 97, March 23, 1946, to Caserta, repeated to Tirana as 49, Byington was authorized to confirm to General McLeod “that while we appreciate desire to coordinate removal of BMM from Albania with possible US action we do not wish Brit to jeopardize safety of BMM personnel by delaying order for withdrawal …” (875.00/3–2246) Telegram 200, April 1, from Tirana, reported that the British Military Mission would depart from Albania on April 3, leaving no British official in the country and no known British nationals (875.00/4–146).