Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON January 26, 1948 SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS NEAR EAST Embassy Moscow reports that the Kremlin, evidently satisfied that US influence and prestige in the Moslem world has fallen to a low ebb as a result of our support for the par- titioning of Palestine, has now begun to concentrate its attack on the UK in propaganda directed to the Near East. We are requesting the British to defer negotiations with Saudi Arabia for a new treaty pending full high-level considera- tion of the proposed treaty draft here in Washington. BALKANS An important Bulgarian official has informed Legation Sofia that any plans for a Balkan or Danube federation would cover only economic and cultural fields, leaving the constituent members of the federation politically independent. He went on to say that in such a federation Bulgaria would have a position similar to that of the Ukraine within the USSR. FRANCE French reactions to Bevin's proposal of a western European alliance are tempered by (a) the current UK- French dispute over devaluation of the franc and (b) a belief that the British are trying to torpedo a French attempt to persuade the Benelux countries to join in a customs union with France and Italy. NETHERLANDS A Netherlands Foreign Office official has indicated that Dutch consideration of Bevin's proposal will take into account the fact that the Netherlands has traditionally made no peacetime alliances and the more important fact that the occupying powers in Germany are currently disregarding Dutch interests. Our Charge in the Hague nevertheless feels that the cabinet will accept this proposal but that the Dutch may employ the proposed alliance in an effort to improve their position vis-a-vis Germany. DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guideline, June 12, 1979 By NLI-HC NARS, Date 11.13.fu