Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON September 23, 1946 SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS ALBANIA The Secretary does not wish any steps to be taken toward recognizing the present regime in Albania because US recogni- tion at this time would be widely misinterpreted. AUSTRIA The Austrian Government has granted an operating license to a Soviet joint stock oil distributing company. This is the first trading company financed entirely by Soviet capital which has been organized within Austria under Austrian law to do business throughout Austria. Our Legation in Vienna believes the company is the forerunner of numerous others and that Austria will become a testing ground for the coexistence in a foreign country of a Soviet state enterprise side by side with private enterprise. BULGARIA Leaders of three opposition groups have informed our representa- tives in Sofia that if possible, the postponement of the scheduled elections in Bulgaria is necessary, at least until the withdrawal of Soviet troops. Failing this, they suggest that an international commission (US, UK and USSR) be sent to Bulgaria to investigate present conditions and control the elections. Opposition leaders are convinced that if the present government wins the elections, it will not be possible to prevent Bulgaria from becoming a Communist republic. EGYPT Both British and Egyptian negotiators are pessimistic over the lack of progress in the Anglo-Egyptian treaty revision negotiations. Our representative in Cairo reports that during a recent con- versation, the Egyptian King appeared preoccupied with the European and Near Eastern political situation and Soviet tactics. The King said he had told Turkish officials he favored closer collaboration between Turkey and the Arab League, perhaps even with a view to eventual inclusion of Turkey in the League as well as measures for collective assistance by Arab League members for Turkey in the event of aggression by another power. ICELAND Preliminary votes in the Icelandic legislature on the acceptance or our agreement reveal that a substantial majority support the agreement. Final action is expected today or tomorrow. The Communist minority in Reykjavik is obscuring the real issues involved and making emotional appeals to Icelandic nationalism. DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guidelins, June 12, 1979 NLT- HL NARS, Date 11-12-10 By