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

CR 1989 NLT-212 DIT / 141513 PRIORITY PERSONAL AND-TOP SECRET DECLASSIFIEO by authority of NUMBER 37 Sept gather F.R 1945 vol. IV P.1160 3. CATIONAL TO: THE PRIME MINISTER us, SERVICE. SELUROS FROM: THE PRESIDENT YOUR NUMBER 45. I HAVE SENT TO THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN BELGRADE THE MESSAGE PROPOSED IN MY NUMBER 34, CORRECTED AS SUGGESTED BY YOU. IN REGARD TO YOUR SUGGESTION THAT A STANDFAST ORDER BE GIVEN TO THE AMERICAN ARMS IN EUROPE, I PREFER TO AWAIT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS BEFORE GIVING SERIOUS CON- SIDERATION TO A FURTHER TEMPORARY CONTINUED OCCUPATION OF THE AGREED UPON SOVIET ZONE IN GERMANY. IT APPEARS TO ME NECESSARY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A REPORT REGARDING OUR MESSAGES TO BELGRADE BEFORE REACHING A DECISION ON WHAT FORCES TO AUTHORIZE FOR USE N THE EVENT OF OUR TROOPS BEING ATTACKED BY THE YUGOSLAVS. UNLESS TITO'S FORCES SHOULD ATTACK, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO INVOLVE THIS COUNTRY IN ANOTHER WAR. IF TITO SHOULD TAKE HOSTILE ACTION AND ATTACK OUR ALLIED FORCES ANYWHERE I WOULD EXPECT FIELD MARSHAL ALEXANDER TO USE AS MANY TROOPS OF ALL NATIONALITIES IN HIS COMMAND AS ARE NECESSARY. Ms. Gallucan (SIGNED) TRUMAN Adan stark