Telegram from Alexander Kirk to Secrertary of State Edward Stettinius

DEPARTMENT INCOMING IVISION OF OF CENTRAL SERVICES STATE TELEGRAM TELEGRAPH SECTION PEM-248 Rome This telegram must be closely peraphrased be- Dated May 4, 1945 fore being communicated to anyone. (CECRET) Rec'd 3:09 p.m. Secretary of State, declassified E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Washington. Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, 1972 By NLT-HC NARS Date 7-25-75 US URGENT 1148, May 4, 5 p.m. ARCHIVES ARD SERVICL the RECORDS The current developments affecting Trieste and Venezia Giulia are being reported to the Department by Ampolad. I Can only emphasize the fact that a weakening of the Allied position hitherto held as to that area and a concession to Tito therefore not only seriously endangers any possibility of equilibrium in Italy at the moment of the liberation of the north (see my 1113, May 2, 5 p.m.) but is bound to reflect to the grave detriment of Allied authority not only as affecting the immediate post war situation but also in the light of the justice of future settlements. As nothing but firmness is understood by certain governments and as adherence to principles is universelly expected from the United States, I submit that both for practical and for moral reasons Allied control over Trieste and the necessary lines of communi- cation must be held and that a departure from a strong stand