768.5/10–1150
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Michael R. Gannett of the Office of Eastern European Affairs
| Participants: | Mr. de Juniac, Counselor of French Embassy1 |
| Lord Jellicoe, First Secretary, British Embassy | |
| Mr. Campbell—EE | |
| Mr. Gannett—EE |
Mr. de Juniac requested this opportunity to discuss further with Mr. Campbell and with Lord Jellicoe the interest of the Quai d’Orsay to use the proposed extension of arms to Yugoslavia as a means to secure improvement in Yugoslavia’s relations with Greece, Italy and Austria.
Previously, at the first meeting of the technical triparite working party on military assistance to Yugoslavia,2 Mr. de Juniac had raised this same question. It was agreed at that time that the matter was outside the scope of the working party’s talks. Mr. de Juniac consented to withdraw his request that it be considered in that form if it would receive joint consideration between the Department and the French and British Embassies.
Mr. de Juniac handed the attached memoire3 to Mr. Campbell and Lord Jellicoe, indicating that he believed the procedure outlined therein would satisfy the Quai d’Orsay. When Lord Jellico and Mr. Campbell said they would seek advice, Mr. de Juniac replied he did not wish to suggest they carry the matter that far, whereupon Mr. Campbell said he would inform Mr. de Juniac of any differences of view the Department might have should these develop, recalling that in the past the three Embassies at Belgrade have made coordinated but separate representations on Trieste matters and on German POWs. Lord Jellicoe indicated his impression that Austro-Yugoslav relations were on the mend and at the moment presented no pressing problems.
- Gontran Begoügne de Juniac, First Counselor of the French Embassy.↩
- Regarding the tripartite working party under reference here, which met in Washington for the first time on October 2, see the aide-mémoire of September 26 from the Department of State to the British Embassy, p. 1457.↩
- The communication under reference here, dated October 10, not printed, raised the question of how the proposed assistance to the Yugoslav Government in the form of military equipment and materials might be utilized to obtain certain modifications in Yugoslav external policies particularly in connection with the improvement of relations with Greece, Italy, and Austria. The communication acknowledged that it would be inopportune to require changes in Yugoslav policies as a condition to the granting of military assistance, but it offered a two-stage alternative course of action. First, American, British, and French Ambassadors in Belgrade would make separate, oral démarches to the Yugoslav Government on the matter. If this proved ineffective, the three Ambassadors would join together to consider what more effective forms of pressure might be taken (768.5/10–1150).↩