811.20200(D)/9–2546: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson)85
637. The Department has received further word on the Yugoslav Government’s note concerning the USIS in Belgrade.
A Yugoslav Foreign Office note dated September 18 and received by the US Embassy September 20, stated that the USIS was worsening relations between the United States of America and the Federal Peoples Republic of Yugoslavia because the USIS daily news bulletin is displayed publicly in the reading room and distributed to private individuals. The note stated that the bulletin should not contain articles attacking FPRY and should be circulated only to newspapers and Yugoslav ministries. If USIS failed to comply, the note warned, the Yugoslav Government would suspend the USIS operation.
On September 21, the US Embassy sent a reply to the Foreign Office. It described the contents and distribution of the bulletin and stated that the Embassy did not agree with the Yugoslav Government attitude that there was any infraction of the established USIS program or a violation of the Yugoslav press law. It was pointed out that since September 20 distribution of the bulletin had been limited to Yugoslav ministries, officials and publications and to UNRRA, foreign missions and foreign correspondents. It concluded that subject to Yugoslav agreement USIS library and exhibit room would continue to display publicly brief news items of world interest but none which the FPRY could construe as unjust attacks.
On September 22 a Yugoslav Foreign Office note stated USIS was continuing its hostile campaign against the FPRY, charging that USIS had reprinted and distributed to private citizens in Yugoslavia [Page 960] mimeographed copies of a series of articles written by Eric Pridonoff, former Embassy attaché. The note concluded that the Yugoslav Government considered the work of USIS as hostile and had decided to withdraw permission for the USIS operation. The Embassy was asked to cease that operation.
On September 23, the Embassy replied, stating that the Pridonoff articles had been reproduced without authorization on the USIS mimeograph machine by an American government employee who was not a member of USIS and that copies of the articles had not been distributed by USIS. The person involved has been discharged. The reply expressed the hope that the Yugoslav authorities would reconsider their request that USIS cease operation in view of the explanation that USIS did not distribute the Pridonoff articles and the fact that steps had been taken to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Although the Yugoslav Foreign Office informed reporters at a press conference September 24 that all USIS operations would cease forthwith, the Embassy, before proceeding further with its negotiations with the Yugoslav Government in an effort to achieve a mutually satisfactory basis for the continuation of USIS activities, is awaiting a reply to its note of September 23.86
- This telegram is a statement read to the press on September 26 by a Department of State spokesman. It follows closely telegram 959, September 25, 2 p.m., from Belgrade (811.20200(D)/9–2546). Neither the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry’s notes of September 18 and 22 nor the Embassy’s notes of September 21 and 23 referred to in this telegram are printed. Texts of the four notes were transmitted to the Department in despatch 507, September 25, from Belgrade, not printed.↩
- Telegram 966, September 26, noon, from Belgrade, reported that the Embassy that morning received a note from the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry dated September 24 which acknowledged the Embassy’s note of September 23 but stated that the Yugoslav Government considered its views fully justified and had to persist in requesting that the USIS and the American reading room in Belgrade suspend their activities without delay (811.20200(D)/9–2646). The USIS premises were closed at noon on September 26. For statement on this closing made by Acting Secretary of State Clayton to the press on September 27, see Department of State Bulletin, October 6, 1946, p. 637.↩