Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

740.0011 EW (Peace)/5–348: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Legation in Hungary

secret   urgent

Washington, May 3, 1948—5 p. m.

450. Unless you perceive objection address note to Brit and Sov colleagues requesting at early date ad hoc meeting of three Heads of Mission to consider principles involved in implementation of military clauses of the treaty. Consider it best tactics not be specific re wording invitation.

In addition to SANACC 244/9,¹ following is guidance for meeting for use in your discretion:

1. Election of chairman unnecessary but official transcript or agreed summary minutes of meeting shld be recorded in cooperation staff three missions.

2. In your introductory remarks state it evident to all that Hun armed forces at this time are below treaty limits (alternatively for Bulg and Rum no evidence yet available their forces above treaty limits) but that it obvious such matters as impending army reorganization, mobilization plans, location and composition present armed forces, etc., are of importance to US in carrying out obligations under treaty, etc.

3. Describe developments concerning requests for military info, ie: that US had interpreted final clauses of treaty to mean any signatory has right in its own interest to request info unilaterally but that local govts have taken position no info can be supplied unless three Heads of Mission act in concert.

4. Citing “acting in concert” article ask your colleagues for joint action in requesting info re military clauses along lines questionnaire previously submitted to Govts.

General purpose of meeting shld be obtain firm statement Sov position for record, particularly confirmation their adherence principle of acting in concert. You are cautioned against raising issues of substance such as militia, size of forces, etc.²

For Sofia only. Inspection Greco-Bulgarian frontier, shld also be considered meeting, referring to unanswered Leg note of Feb 28 to Sovs, which reiterated invitation to participate in inspection, and Bulg note of March 17.³ If Sovs agree to inspection, you shld avoid Sov selection particular areas.

Deptel 358, Apr 5, sent also to Sofia as 227, Bucharest 244, rptd London for FonOff as 1168, Moscow 367, Rome 954.

Marshall

1. SANACC 244/9, April 23, 1948, is a revision of SWNCC 244/7. Amendments to SWNCC 244/7 are indicated in telegram 451, May 3, to Budapest, infra.
2. Acting on the instructions contained in this telegram, the Legations in Sofia, Budapest, and Bucharest on May 4 transmitted to the British and Soviet mission heads in their capitals notes requesting the convening meetings of the American, British, and Soviet heads of mission to consider the principles involved in the implementation of the respective peace treaties. British authorities were fully in accord with the American proposal. The Soviet Ambassador in Romania accepted the invitation on May 5, but he subsequently was unable to attend the first scheduled meeting on May 18, and finally, on May 26, he formally declined to participate at all. The Soviet Charge in Sofia refused orally on May 10 and again on May 26 to participate in meetings of the mission heads in Bulgaria. A formal written Soviet refusal was addressed to the Legation in Sofia on June 5. In a note of May 14 the Soviet Ambassador in Hungary declined to participate in the proposed meeting of mission heads in Budapest. Correspondence on this topic is included in file 740.0011 EW (Peace).
3. Regarding the notes under reference here, see footnote 6, p. 285.