740.00116 E.W./11–245: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:50 p.m.]
613. Belgrade press yesterday published statement of War Crimes Commission that British Foreign Office informed Yugo Embassy London October 19 that 14 war criminals in British hands will be surrendered to Yugos at once. First name on list is Milan Nedich followed by [Rupnik]74 and 12 names given in third paragraph of Department’s 342, October 11.75
British Chargé Deakin told us today that Milan Nedich was definitely not on the list submitted by British and he has telegraphed London for authority to demand Yugos public statement to this effect.
[Page 1280]Addition of Nedich to British list appears to be Yugos effort to bring Nedich case to a head and we suggest if possible that we promptly inform Yugos what we propose to do with him. Re Berlin telegram 693 to Department76 it now appears to be in order to hand him over although we believe he will not be given fair trial and hence many facts concerning real nature of his role during occupation important for history as well as for bearing on his guilt or innocence may never be known.77
- Gen. Leon Rupnik, former leader of the German-Italian sponsored Slovene White Guard.↩
- Same as telegram 888 to Mr. Kirk, p. 1265.↩
- Not printed; this telegram from the U.S. Political Adviser for Germany, October 5, 1945, 6 p.m., informed the Department that the Yugoslav government had requested the surrender of Milan Nedich and other individuals who were in the American zone of Germany. Mr. Murphy asked for the Department’s instructions. (740.00116 EW/10–545)↩
- In telegram 398, November 9, 1945, 8 p.m., the Department informed Ambassador Patterson of its wilingness to hand over General Nedich to the Yugoslav government. However, the General’s whereabouts were not known. Rumors had him simultaneously in custody in the American zone of Germany, and a suicide in Austria. Interested officers were still investigating the matter. (740.00116 EW/11–245)↩