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

No. 880

768.5/3–2351: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Yugoslavia ¹

top secret

Washington, March 23, 1951—7 p.m.

991. Fol FYI only:

1. Brit Emb conveyed orally to Dept Mar 8 fol proposals Brit Govt re list Yugo mil requirements which it received from Djilas during London visit:²

(a) Brit Govt shld inform Yugo Govt it agrees in principle endeavor fill Yugo requirements subj availabilities and suggest to Yugos that minimum essential needs be discussed either by service attachés of three Western Govts and Yugo auths in Belgrade or by Yugo experts and representatives three govts in Washington.

(b) Brit Govt shld seek US and Fr concurrence foregoing meanwhile submitting Yugo list for consideration Tripartite Working Group in Washington to determine what items can be supplied in immed future and effect delivery these items to Yugo wld have on other commitments.

(c) In light these investigations three govts shld determine priorities attaching to items to be supplied to Yugo.³

2. Dept has today given Brit Emb oral reply as fol:

(a) US agrees Brit proposal reconvening Tripartite Working Group for reassessment at technical level of Yugo mil requirements, including those indicated in list provided Brit Govt by Djilas, and of present and prospective availabilities to meet requirements. US considers tripartite discussions shld be opened at early date and, if no objection from Brit viewpoint, Dept will inform Fr Govt and suggest opening discussions here Apr 2.

(b) Dept has no objection to intention of Brit Govt inform Yugo Govt it is examining Yugo list together with US and Fr Govts to determine what items can be supplied in light of availabilities, priorities and other factors. Dept prefers discussions with Yugo technical experts be held in Belgrade but wld agree holding them in Washington or be glad consider any alternative arrangements suggested by Yugos.

(c) USG will be glad to examine with Brit and Fr Govt in light of proposed tripartite investigation question of priorities to be attached to items supplied to Yugo.⁴

Acheson

1. Drafted by Huston and cleared with Reinhardt. Repeated to London and Paris. In a memorandum of April 16 to Matthews, Major General Burns indicated that the telegram printed here had not been cleared with the Department of Defense and asked that, pending the completion of a study by that Department of the needs and procedures for consultations with Yugoslav officials, the U.S. position on such consultations be held in abeyance. In a letter of reply of April 24, Matthews explained that this telegram was formulated in pursuance of discussions which Perkins and Nitze had with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on March 21. Matthews expressed regret that the message was not further cleared with the Department of Defense. (768.5/4–1651)
2. Regarding the Djilas visit to London and the list of Yugoslav military requirements supplied by him, see telegrams 4198 and 4485 both from London, Documents 847 and 863.
3. In telegram 5829 from Paris, March 31, the Embassy reported that the considerations set forth here were the subject of a British Embassy aide-mémoire delivered to the French Foreign Ministry on March 30. (768.5/3–3151)
4. Telegram 5103 to Paris, March 29, authorized the Embassy to inform the French Foreign Ministry that the Department of State had agreed to the British proposal to reconvene the Tripartite Working Group to discuss the Yugoslav list of military requirements. (768.5/3–2951) Telegram 5829 from Paris, March 31, reported that the French Foreign Ministry had been informed of the proposed action, was in full agreement, and would issue the necessary instructions. (768.5/3–3151) Regarding the meetings of the Tripartite Committee on Military Assistance to Yugoslavia, see Document 887.