American Diplomats and Officials on Macedonia and the Macedonian Question during the 1940s

Abstract

The article analyses United States diplomats’ and officials’ perception on Macedonia and the Macedonian Question during the 1940s. Based on the collection of Foreign Relations of the United States, the microfilms of the State Department, part of the Historical Archive of the Institute for Balkan Studies, and other primary and secondary sources it examines the evolution of their writings, their influences, their proposals and Washington’s decisions. It also examines the pursuit of United States diplomats and officials to maintain the Greek territorial integrity and the importance attributed in Macedonia region. Moreover, it discusses the escalation of the Cold War, the intervention of the United States and the United Nations in Greece and interpretations attributing to communist activities and the Macedonian Question by the Americans. Furthermore, the article discusses the upgrade of the Macedonian Question from a solely Greek security issue to a Yugoslav one too after the breech between Belgrade and Moscow. Finally, it deals with the degradation of the Macedonian Question by Washington and the need for cooperation between Yugoslavia and Greece and argues United States policy makers effectiveness throughout the revival of the Macedonian Question.