860H.48/12–1544: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Kirk), to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—6:31 a.m.]
1774. Ref. my 1726, December 13, 4 p.m.9 We received a summons from Field Marshal Alexander10 this morning to attend a meeting in his office at which were present CinC Med,11 General Eaker,12 General Harding,13 new Chief of Staff to Alexander, General Gammell, and Broad, who is acting in Macmillan’s absence.
Alexander opened discussion by stating that Admiral Cunningham was most disturbed by the news received in a telegram from Maclean with regard to the food situation in Dalmatia. (See my 1766, December 15, 11 a.m.9) Admiral Cunningham stated that he felt that this matter was “dynamite” and that something should be done at once to protect our position in case the world press should learn that the Allies were withholding relief from Yugoslavia just across the Adriatic Sea in Italy while “people were dying like flies in Dalmatia”. Alexander then requested our advice.
We stated that the record was clear. We had been trying for many weeks to negotiate an agreement at Bari for distribution of relief with representatives of the Yugoslav Government and with representatives of Marshal Tito, but that Tito had up to the present time been unwilling to reach an agreement. We pointed out that many concessions have been made to Tito by SAC’s representatives during the progress of the negotiations and that in spite of our efforts to expedite the matter (in view of implications of a delay in relief deliveries to Yugoslavia) Tito had refused to act. Alexander then stated that he considered the situation intolerable and wondered what [Page 1436] he could do. We reminded him that the directive from the Combined Chiefs of Staff on relief for Yugoslavia set forth his instructions very clearly and that in the circumstances we could not advise him to depart from this directive without further reference to the Combined Chiefs. In the course of protracted discussion it was pointed out that since Tito was after all “boss” of Yugoslavia today and would continue to remain as master of the country, it seemed rather pointless to continue withholding aid thereby incurring his ill will. One suggestion was made that military supplies might be sent in to tide over a difficult situation. After considerable discussing during most of which my British colleague remained silent, it was agreed to send Maclean a telegram setting forth our position as reported in my message under ref[erence] and requesting Maclean to reiterate to Tito that this matter should be concluded at Caserta and that Tito should send his representatives to Italy as soon as possible.
We understand that Alexander will inform the CCS of this action and request further guidance in the light of recent developments.
- Not printed.↩
- Field Marshal Sir Harold R. L. Alexander succeeded General Wilson as Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, on December 12, 1944.↩
- Adm. Sir John Cunningham, Commander in Chief of Allied naval forces in the Mediterranean Theater.↩
- Gen. Ira C. Eaker, United States Army Air Forces, Air Officer-in-Charge.↩
- Lt. Gen. Sir John Harding, General Officer, Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command, England.↩
- Not printed.↩