860h.00/10–2445: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4 p.m.]
580. Department’s telegram 353, October 17, 8 p.m.66 In Grol’s opinion, expressed of course without his knowing Department’s views, any attempt to seek new Tito–Subasic agreement is useless. Subasic is sick and weak as well as out of favor with many of his own party members who cannot excuse his joining Front 2 months ago or voting for laws. Grol thinks more important and capable leaders of Croatian Peasant Party should be sought to replace Subasic and suggested Machek or Kosutic. Former is now in exile and latter still imprisoned in Zagreb, but Grol adds personalities are not important. What is needed is government in which all parties are represented. He does not propose laws passed by provisional Parliament be revoked but only corrected in detail and elections be held later under new government and more settled circumstances. He reiterates necessity for replacement of Ozna by ordinary civil police and demobilization of Army as prerequisite for free elections.
Grol states that Tito and Communists are now in such complete control that they are even impeding pre-election campaign of other parties within Front and he foresees 500 or [of] approximately 600 deputies to be elected will be Communist if elections go off as scheduled. [Page 1274] He said that in effect, if US and UK want Communist regime in Yugoslavia there is nothing to be done. If they do not, they must act immediately to postpone elections.
We agree with Grol that new understanding between Tito and Subasic is probably impossible to realize and that another working arrangement must be reached on lines Grol suggests.
Sent Department, repeated London as 43 and Moscow as 360.
- Same as telegram 2179 to Moscow, p. 1270.↩