768.5–MAP/3–1951
The Yugoslav Ambassador (Popović) to the Secretary of State 1
The Ambassador of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia presents his compliments to the Honorable the Secretary of State and with reference to the latter’s Note of January 26, 1951,2 has the honor to express, on behalf of his Government, his appreciation for the food granted by the Government of the United States to the people of Yugoslavia to overcome the difficulties arisen following the drought during last year. The Government of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia views this decision of the Government of the United States as a new confirmation of the traditional friendly ties existing between the people of Yugoslavia and the United States of America and as a further step towards the strengthening of these ties and of mutual understanding. This assistance will be, at the same time, a considerable contribution to [Page 1759] the increase of the economic strength and thereby also to the defense capacities of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia.
However, in view of the emphasis made by the Honorable the Secretary of State in the Note under reference to the effect that the provision of assistance should not be interpreted as implying endorsement of measures undertaken by the Government of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia suppressing or destroying religious, political or economic liberty in Yugoslavia, the Ambassador of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia considers it necessary to point, on behalf of his Government, to the following:
There are few nations in the world that have through their history and particularly in the course of the last war and afterwards, sustained such enormous sacrifices as the people of Yugoslavia in their fight for the preservation and safeguard of their liberty and independence. In this superhuman struggle the people of Yugoslavia have built up and consolidated their people’s authority the character and essence of which is fully inconsistent with any political, religious, economic and racial discrimination whatsoever.
Both the internal and external policy of the Government of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia is in harmony with the interests and strivings of the people of Yugoslavia. The support the people of Yugoslavia are offering to their Government in the carrying out of such a policy has found its best expression in the judgment of its activity by the representative bodies elected freely and in a democratic way, to whom the Government of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia is solely responsible.
The Ambassador of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia avails himself [etc.]
-
This note was delivered by Yugoslav Embassy Counselor Sardelic to Campbell on March 20. Campbell’s brief memorandum of his conversation with Sardelic at the time of the delivery commented upon the circumstances and implications of the delivery as follows:
“In handing me the note Mr. Sardelic said that his government felt constrained to state its own position in regard to the allegations or implications of our note, this position being that the Yugoslav Government rested on consent of the people and that liberties were not suppressed or destroyed. I said that there was obviously a fundamental difference of view on this question and that it would not be particularly profitable for the two of us to enter into lengthy discussion about it. Apparently, judging from (1) the wording and tone of the note, (2) the fact that, as Mr. Sardelic took care to point out, they do not intend to publish it, and (3) the fact that it was handed by Sardelic to me rather than by the Ambassador to the Secretary or Mr. Perkins, the Yugoslav Government does not wish to stir up this issue nor to engage in public controversy on it, but obviously felt that our note could not be left unanswered.” (868.03/3–2051)
↩ - Not printed, but see the memorandum of conversation by Bonbright, Document 837.↩