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

No. 869

768.5/3–251

Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State¹

top secret

[Washington,] March 2, 1951.

Reference is made to Mr. Velebit’s oral communications to representatives of the Department of State on February 7, 1951,² when he stated that the Yugoslav Government would be interested in receiving certain 105 mm howitzers and other military equipment which he had been informed on February 3 might be made available for the purpose of increasing the capabilities of the Yugoslav armed forces to resist aggression.

1. The United States Government is prepared to make available to the Yugoslav Government, at no cost to the Yugoslav Government, delivered dockside at a United States port, within 30 to 60 days from this date, the items named in attached List “A”.³ It will accordingly be appreciated if the Yugoslav Government will indicate at as early a date as may be possible the port or ports at which, and the date when, a Yugoslav vessel or vessels will be available for loading this matériel.

2. The items named in attached List “B”⁴ may be similarly delivered into Yugoslav possession within six months, provided arrangements have meanwhile been concluded for Yugoslav-United States military staff talks, as originally proposed by Mr. Velebit on behalf of the Yugoslav Government, encompassing strategic matters of mutual interest with respect to Yugoslavia, as well as detailed discussions involving the overall Yugoslav military supply situation.

In reaching a determination that the above-mentioned matériel should be made available to the Yugoslav Government, the United States Government has been mindful of the various statements of high Yugoslav officials that Yugoslavia will fulfill its obligations as a member of the United Nations in opposing aggression, as well as of the undertaking of the Yugoslav Government contained in its exchange of notes with the United States Ambassador in Belgrade on November 20 and 21, 1950,⁵ relating to the supply of food to Yugoslavia by the United States, in which it agreed to provide the United States reciprocal assistance by continuing to facilitate the production and transfer to the United States of raw and semi-processed materials required by the United States.

It will be appreciated if the Yugoslav Government will indicate at an early date whether it finds the foregoing arrangements acceptable.

1. A covering memorandum by Huston noted that Matthews approved the source text.
2. A record of Velebit’s remarks on February 7 is contained in the memorandum of conversation enclosed with Matthews’ letter to Lovett, Document 857.
3. Not printed; it listed 14 different items ranging from rifle cartridges to howitzers totaling $3,253,665 in value.
4. Not printed; it listed 12 items of a similar nature to those in List A totaling $12,835,452 in value.
5. For text of Ambassador Allen’s note, November 20, 1950, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. iv, p. 1504. The Yugoslav Government reply is summarized in footnote 1 thereto.