740.5/3–2151: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford), at London1
Todep 312. When Yugo Govt requested food assistance from US last fall because of Yugo drought, it indicated aid in addition to food needed in sum of $50 million for raw materials which could not be imported and paid for as planned with agricultural exports because of drought. We informed Yugo Govt we prepared to extend food assistance immed and wld continue discuss with it needs for raw materials and other supplies. Subsequent analysis Yugo econ situation indicates immed need for raw material imports if Yugo economy is not to risk serious deterioration with resulting weakening of its capacity to resist aggression in a most threatening internatl situation. Accordingly we contemplate extending immed assistance in form of raw materials and other supplies in amts and kinds equivalent to consumption needs for supporting the Yugo armed forces. Value of this assistance will not exceed $30 million to be financed from funds appropriated under MDAA. Before extending assistance to Yugo under that law, Pres must find that provision of mil assistance to Yugo will contribute to preservation of peace and security No Atl area and is vital to security US. This finding Pres may make, under law, only after he has consulted with govts other nations which are members No Atl Treaty. For further background see circ Tomap 114 Nov 3, 1950.2 Because of necessity for creating a written record showing consultation, it is desired that in addition bringing foregoing matter attn Deputies before they leave for Easter Recess you provide each Deputy with memo which shld read substantially as fols:
“Reference is made to the Aide-Mémoire provided the ————— Govt by the US Govt last Nov respecting the provision of assistance to Yugo in mtg the critical food shortage in that country.3 The US Govt is considering the provision of further assistance to the Yugo Govt to fin the importation of raw materials and other supplies needed by the Yugo Govt, which wld otherwise have been imported and paid for by the Yugo Govt with agricultural exports. The US [Page 1763] Govt is considering this course of action for the reasons stated in the earlier aide-mémoire.
I am instructed to confirm that the Govt of ————— continues to believe that the immed increased ability of Yugo to defend itself will contribute to the preservation of the peace and security of the No Atl area, keeping in mind the direct importance to the defense of the No Atl area of the strategic location of Yugo and the serious effect on the security of the No Atl area resulting from the drought in Yugo because of its effect on the ability of the Yugo Govt to import raw materials and other supplies which in amounts and kinds are equivalent to the consumption needs for supporting the Yugo armed forces”.4
You shld remind the Deputies in this connection of your observations to the Deputies reported para 4 Depto 52, page 13.5 If Deputies cannot give response of their govts immed, we request that their govts reply individually through our missions their countries directly to us at earliest possible moment, to reach us preferably not later than Mar 26.
- Drafted by Vigderman and Higgs and cleared with Labouisse, ECA, Defense, and S/ISA. Repeated to Paris, Rome, The Hague, Ottawa, Oslo, Copenhagen, Brussels, Luxembourg, Lisbon, Reykjavik, and Belgrade.↩
- For text, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. iv, p. 1494.↩
- Regarding the Yugoslav Emergency Relief Assistance Act, see the editorial note, ibid., p. 1507.↩
- In telegram Depto 663 from London, March 22, Ambassador Spofford reported that upon receipt of the telegram printed here, a meeting of the political working group of the Deputies had been convened and each representative had been handed an aide-mémoire embodying the substance of the proposed communication quoted here. The representatives were also given orally the further background information furnished here. The British representative agreed immediately and there was no indication of disagreement from any of the other representatives. (740.5/3–2251) The text of the aide-mémoire given the NATO representatives on March 22 was transmitted in telegram Depto 664 from London, March 22. (740.5/3–2251) Between March 24 and March 30, all NATO governments responded favorably to the proposal set forth in the U.S. Delegation’s aide-mémoire of March 22.↩
- The document cannot be further identified.↩