Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Europe: Political and Economic Developments, Volume IV, Part 2

No. 857

768.5/2–851

The Deputy Under Secretary of State (Matthews) to the Under Secretary of Defense (Lovett)

top secret

[Washington,] February 8, 1951.

Dear Mr. Lovett: Reference is made to the reply which, after being shown to you and to General Bradley, was handed Mr. Velebit on February 3 in response to his oral enquiry regarding the immediate provision of arms and other military equipment to Yugoslavia and the possibility of initiating United States-Yugoslav staff talks.¹ Reference is also made to the recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff contained in their memorandum of February 2, 1951,² a copy of which was forwarded to me by Colonel Kreps under cover of a memorandum dated February 3, 1951.

I now enclose a copy of a memorandum of a conversation which Mr. Velebit had yesterday with representatives of the State Department in which he indicated that his Government was desirous of obtaining any surplus material, such as the howitzers, now available in the United States, although it prefers that for the time being the United States not take up with the British and French Governments the question of captured World War II matériel now in their hands. Mr. Velebit has not yet received his Government’s reply with respect to possible staff talks.

In consideration of the Yugoslav reply, the Department of State hopes that the Department of Defense will be able at once to inaugurate such measures as may be necessary looking to the delivery to the Yugoslavs, … at the earliest practicable date, such quantities of howitzers, ammunition and other military equipment as can be made available for that purpose and are deemed capable of contributing effectively to the strength of the Yugoslav armed forces and their ability to resist aggression. It will be appreciated if you should meanwhile find it possible to inform this Department regarding the nature and quantities of the equipment which will be made available to the Yugoslavs, as well as the approximate date of delivery, in order that Mr. Velebit may be advised accordingly.

I should also be grateful if you would indicate whether the Department of Defense perceives any reason why Mr. Velebit should not be informed that the matériel in question is being turned over to the Yugoslavs without conditions, financial or otherwise, beyond the expectation that it will be utilized with a view to strengthening as effectively as possible the Yugoslav will and capability to resist aggression.

This letter and its enclosure are being sent to you in the original and one copy in the expectation that one will serve for your use and the other for that of General Bradley.³

Sincerely yours,

H. Freeman Matthews

[Enclosure]

top secret

[Washington, February 7, 1951.]

Memorandum of Conversation⁴

Subject: Conversation with Velebit regarding arms for Yugoslavia

Mr. Velebit met with Messrs. Joyce and Reinhardt the afternoon of February 7 for the purpose of transmitting the following message from Belgrade:

1. The Yugoslav Government is definitely interested in the possibility of receiving … from the U.S. the 105 mm. howitzers mentioned in the message given to Mr. Velebit on February 3. His government asked what were the financial conditions under which this transfer could be effected and how many pieces were involved. He added that Yugoslavia had no ammunition of this character, nor the means of fabricating any, and that it accordingly would be necessary for them to acquire, together with the guns, either a supply of the appropriate ammunition or machinery suitable for manufacturing it locally.…

2. In reply to the U.S. inquiry whether the British and French Governments might be informed of Mr. Velebit’s confidential approach in order to consider a combined US-Anglo-French effort designed to obtain, if possible, German World War II and other equipment in other than U.S. hands, Mr. Velebit stated that Belgrade preferred that the U.S. not approach the British and French Governments at this time. He added that his Government itself is in the process of approaching the British and French Governments in this matter and preferred that the U.S. Government await developments in these consultations. He said he assumed that both the British and French Governments would in due course inform the U.S. Government with respect thereto. Finally, on this point he said that of course the Yugoslav Government hoped that at such time as the British and French Governments raised this question with the U.S. Government the latter would take a sympathetic and cooperative position with respect to the Yugoslav request.

3. Mr. Velebit stated that with respect to the suggested secret U.S.-Yugoslav staff conversations he had not yet received any word from Belgrade.

1. Regarding the meeting of February 3, see Document 853.
2. Document 852.
3. In a memorandum to the Secretary of Defense of February 15, the Joint Chiefs of Staff informed him that the Department of the Army had tabulated which equipment could be given to Yugoslavia within 30 to 60 days and which would take up to 6 months to deliver. (768.5/2–1551) This information was presented to Velebit by Reinhardt on March 3; see Documents 868 and 869.
4. Presumably prepared by Reinhardt.