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

No. 859

740.5/2–1351: Telegram

[Extract]²

The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State ¹

top secret

London, February 13, 1951—4 p.m.

Depto 502. Deputies’ ninth meeting February 12.

. . . . . . .

4. Concluded exchange political views Yugoslav situation. Approved paper (D–D(51)29),³ Depto 439, January 22,⁴ Depto 446, January 23,⁵ and Depto 457, January 26.⁶ As agreed consensus designed to promote common approach and policy but not agreement commiting governments to course action.

UK withdrew sentence previously inserted at its request to effect satellite attack unlikely until after 1951 training season. UK now thought satellite attack might well come sooner. French shared UK pessimism and posed problem localization conflict. Netherlands thought any attack unlikely until Soviets prepared commit own forces since satellite forces, especially Hungary unreliable.

Italy felt attack on Yugoslavia would put Italy front line and in granting material aid Yugoslavia at possible expense delay NATO rearmament without jeopardy overall NATO defense special consideration should be given Italian defense owing exposed geographic and strategic position. UK opposed acidly as special treatment for one NAT country. Referred also UK troops Trieste and Austria. SHAPE and SG should determine. Italian point met by referring in II C to overall defense plan “particularly that pertaining to the immediate geographic area”.

Portugal believed Tito unreliable ally and redundantly observed NAT Article 5 not brought into operation by such attack.

US reiterated that NATO countries may shortly be compelled recognize necessity meeting Yugoslav critical requirements, and should stand ready make quick decisions and take quick action.⁷

UK said government was already studying what UK would do in event Yugoslavia attacked.

. . . . . . .

Spofford

2. The omitted portions of this message, sections 1–3 and 5–6, deal with matters unrelated to Yugoslavia.
1. Repeated to Ottawa, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, The Hague, Lisbon, Oslo, Paris (for the Embassy, General Schuyler, and OSR), Reykjavik, Rome, Heidelberg (for General Handy), Wiesbaden (for General Norstad), and Luxembourg.
3. Telegram Depto 457 from London, January 26, contains the text of this paper; see Document 840.
4. Not printed, but see footnote 3, ibid.
5. Not printed, but see footnote 6, Document 834.
6. Document 840.
7. See footnote 5, ibid.