860h.00/11–345: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson)
399. Urtel 615, Nov 3.82 Dept is in general opposed to its Missions abroad granting asylum and accordingly you should avoid giving refuge to any one in normal course of events.
However, Dept has on various recent occasions indicated its recognition of the fact that political conditions in Europe during this period immediately following hostilities are unusually disturbed and in the circumstances we are aware that cases could arise wherein a rigid adherence at this time to a policy of withholding asylum might give grounds for criticism that this Govt is unmindful of the hazards now being risked by various patriotic leaders of democratic opinion. Accordingly, you are authorized to provide protection, if called upon, provided you have satisfied yourself 1) that the individual in question is in immediate danger of his life, 2) that no other avenue of recourse offering a reasonable hope of safety is open to him, 3) that his life is endangered only as a result of his having carried on political activities consistent with the proper exercise of democratic processes, and 4) that the granting of asylum to him will not jeopardize the lives or safety of the Embassy personnel. In view of the practical impossibility of extending protection to any large numbers of persons, you are cautioned against too liberal exercise this privilege which should in any event be granted only on individual merit of each case and not on collective basis or on grounds that person concerned belongs to any group.
You will, of course, telegraph Dept immediately full circumstances any case in which you have felt it necessary to avail yourself of above authority.
- Not printed; it reported that the British Chargé in Belgrade had inquired what the attitude of the United States might be with regard to the granting of asylum to Yugoslav opposition leaders (860h.00/11–345).↩