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

840.811/9–3048: Circular telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices ¹

secret

Washington, September 30, 1948—3 a. m.

For your info only Dept has decided follow-up action on Danube Conference as follows:

It is essential that U.S. adopt positive policy deal with consequences Danube Conference and take initiative without delay. It is important that U.S. leave no uncertainty in world public opinion that Danube is not finished business. Failure to so follow through would be interpreted as tacit acceptance of Sov Convention and would result in failure to capitalize on favorable, though intangible, aspects of Conference.

(a) U.S. will lodge formal protests with U.S.S.R. and each satellite present at Belgrade Conference that Belgrade Convention in its view null and void because fails implement Balkan Treaties of Peace violates established treaty rights. Note to be published. U.S. will suggest same procedure for U.K., France, Belgium, Greece, Italy, and Austria.

(b) U.S. will lose no opportunity refer to Danube Conference and criticize its conduct and Convention which it adopted wherever appropriate in U.N. General Assembly or other organs of U.N., particularly ECOSOC and ECE.

(c) U.S. will advise U.K. and France that U.S. will support move on their part to obtain advisory opinion from International Court on validity 1921 Convention.

(d) U.S. will consider taking initiative raising Danube issue at any future CFM meeting on German and Austrian Peace Treaties if that still seems appropriate at time.

(e) U.S. to encourage Danube satellite states through Voice of America, propaganda literature and diplomatic channels to regret Belgrade Conference results, see Sov imperialism loss of own sovereignty and find U.S. sincere in effort promote their economic well being.

(f) U.S. to encourage General Clay² on behalf Trizonia³ to offer reciprocal bilateral shipping and trade arrangements to Sov satellites, but instruct not to deal with Commission or otherwise recognize Convention.

(g) Ditto for Austria.

(h) U.S. to advise Italians, Belgians, and Greeks actions U.S. plans to take and reaffirm our support their rights on Danube.

(i) U.S. to advise ECA of our policy toward Danube and request cooperation following through any ECA operating measures relating East-West trade which might assist this program.

Dept welcomes ur views program and suggestions for its implementation.

Lovett

1. Sent to the Embassies in London, Paris, Moscow, Belgrade, Prague, Athens, Rome, and Brussels; to the Legations in Bucharest, Sofia, and Vienna; and to the United States Political Adviser in Berlin.
2. Lucius D. Clay, General, United States Commander in Chief Europe, and Military Governor for Germany.
3. For documentation about the measures taken by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France for the development of economic coordination in their zones of occupation in Germany, see vol. ii, pp. 703 ff.