76S.00/5–250: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1
2074. Dept has now recd from Brit Emb reply to Aide-Mémoire Dec 19492 re our policy toward conflict between USSR and Yugo. UK in agreement gen line our Yugo policy. However, UK suggests Yugo not be given higher priority for arms than NAT countries and states difficult find arms for Yugo during next few years from UK stocks or planned production. It further proposes, if YuGovt asks purchase US or UK arms, agreement shld be conditioned by Yugo acceptance US and/or UK mil mission secretly to study Yugo requirements and plans. Care shld be exercised not permit YuGovt believe it cld secure aid on larger scale than wld be reality in order discourage exaggerated requests. It cld be informed that in event Yugo attacked it wld receive such mil supplies as US and UK Govts with other commitments cld furnish. Arms wld not be supplied without fullest inquiry by competent US–UK technicians of actual requirements.
Views of Fr3 and Brit Govts now being studied in order formulate US position upon technical points raised. You will be informed when this completed, at which time US may propose to UK and Fr Govts instituting in Wash technical level conversations, both polit and mil, which wld seek iron out any remaining differences and keep abreast changing conditions, in order that if and when decision taken provide mil supplies to Yugo, appropriate action may be taken with minimum delay.