Memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew to President Harry S. Truman, Current Foreign Developments

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TOP SECRET DECLASSIFIED E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, 1972 By NLT-WC NARS Date 6.26.25 May 16, 1945 MEDIORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Current Foreim Devalopments Overland Exchange of POVS. The Soviet High Command has agreed to a meeting in Leipzig to arrange for an overland exchange of POWS. The Russian representatives will be accompanied by 30 experts and assistants. SHAEF will endeavor to obtain Soviet agreement to the immediate initiation of the evacuation of 40,00 Western Allied POWs by air and the establishment of a joint SHAZF-Soviet work- ing committee. Return of King Leopold. Evidences of a recovery of composure on the part of Leopold are accompanied by a stiffening of his attitude. The King is now arranging to see Belgians representing a cross-section of the country. The Prince Regent is not optimistic and an immediate set- tlement is not expected. Venezia Giulia. The US and UK notes were delivered to Tito May 15. He com: lained that Yugoslavia was being considered a third-class area and that it WRS unfair that his troops should not remain in territory conquered by its force of arms and bloodshed. He promised a reply on May 16. Yugoslay Interest in Austria. The British have in- formed Moscow that they cannot accept the analogy drawn by Vyshinski between Belgian and Dutch participation in the occupation