Telegram from President Harry S. Truman to Prime Minister Winston Churchill

DECLASSIFIED by authui ity of NLT-312 TOP SEGRET stlat F.R.1945 V.I.P.I.P. 1172 S. TOP SECRET 23 May 1945 PRIORITY Initials HC Date: 7.23 is = AND From: Opnav 7821 To : Alusna, London 2319362, NCR NUMBER 47. TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL FROM THE PRESIDENT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER. The following quoted message is received from Marshal Stalin this date: QUOTE. I have received on May 21 your message on the question of Istria - the text of Trieste. Somewhat earlier I have also received from you, through Mr. Kennan,/the message transmitted by the American Ambassador in Belgrade to the Yugoslav Govern- ment on the same question. Thank you for this information. In regard to the essence of the question I have to say the following: Your opinion, that this question is of principle and that in respect to the territory of Istria - Trieste no action should be allowed which will not fully con- sider the lawful claims of Yugoslavia and the contribution made by the Yugoslav armed forces to the common cause of the Allies in the struggle against Hitlerite Germany, seems to be quite correct. It goes without saying that the future of this territory, the majority of whose population is Yugoslavian, should be determined during the peace adjustment. However, at the present time the question under con- sideration is the temporary military occupation of this territory. In this respect it is necessary, in my opinion, to take into consideration the fact that it is the Allied Yugoslav troops who have driven the German invaders from the territory of Istria - Trieste, thereby rendering an important service to the common cause of the Allies, By virtue of this circunstance only it would not be fair and would be an undeserved insult for the Yugoslav Army and the Yugoslav people to refuse Yugo- slavia the right to occupy the territory retaken from the enemy after the Yugoslav people has made 30 many sacrifices in the struggle for the national rights of Yugoslavia and for the common cause of the United Nations. - 1 - TOP SEGRET