768.5/3–251
Memorandum by Robert P. Joyce of the Policy Planning Staff to the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Matthews)1
Subject: Conversation with the Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade of Yugoslavia, Mr. Vladimir Velebit.
Mr. Vladimir Velebit telephoned Mr. Joyce early Friday morning, April 6, to say that he had returned to Washington from Belgrade last night. He stated that he would like an early appointment to meet with Mr. Reinhardt and Mr. Joyce. The appointment was arranged for 12:00 noon in Mr. Reinhardt’s office. Mr. Velebit covered the following points in connection with the suggested conversations [Page 1777] on a strategic level between the American and Yugoslav military authorities:
- 1.
- During his short visit to Belgrade, Mr. Velebit met with Marshal Tito and the top members of the Yugoslav Government. During the course of this meeting it was decided that there was an undesirable degree of uncertainty in Washington as to Yugoslav political and military intentions in case of an aggression in Europe. The Yugoslav Government decided that it was most desirable that this uncertainty should be cleared up at the earliest possible time.
- 2.
- The Yugoslav Government felt that the suggested visit to Yugoslavia by an American staff officer would not be sufficient but that rather the strategic conversations which the Yugoslavs desired should be raised to a much higher level.
- 3.
- Mr. Velebit had therefore been authorized by the Yugoslav Government to propose to the U.S. Government that General Kocha Popovic, Chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army, should visit Washington. Mr. Velebit stated that General Popovic would be empowered by Marshal Tito to discuss top-level strategic matters and it was therefore hoped that the appropriate high officials of this Government would be prepared to enter into conversations with General Popovic.
- 4.
- General Popovic would be prepared to come to Washington at once if this proposal should be found acceptable by the U.S. Government.…
- 5.
- Should the U.S. Government agree to General Popovic’s visit to Washington, the Yugoslav Government suggested that it would be desirable to agree upon a “program” covering the main topics to be discussed rather than to agree upon a more or less rigid “agenda”. The Belgrade Government would also appreciate, should the suggested visit be accepted, receiving information as to the persons on the American side who would engage in discussions with General Popovic.
- 6.
- Mr. Velebit stated that General Popovic does not speak English but is fluent in French. He added that it was the intention of his Government to attach him, Velebit, to General Popovic in the role of advisor, assistant and interpreter.
- 7.
- In reply to a question, Mr. Velebit said that the Yugoslavs desired that these discussions should, in the first stage, be bi-lateral. He indicated that at a later stage and upon mutual agreement it would probably be desirable to bring in the British.
Mr. Velebit did not seem particularly concerned at the prospect that the visit to this country of General Popovic certainly could not be kept secret. He said that Popovic would travel under his correct christian name, Konstantine Popovic, and that naturally his passport would need a certain number of transient visas. He added that Popovic was, after all, the commonest name in Yugoslavia. In other words, Velebit indicated while he considered it desirable to minimize so far as possibly publicity and speculation with respect to such a visit he was not anxious that the visit of Popovic to the U.S. should be surrounded by a veil of secrecy.
[Page 1778]Mr. Velebit stated that his Government would very much appreciate an early reply to the suggestion for Popovic’s visit. He was advised that the matter would be put into the hands of higher authorities at once.
- Cleared with Reinhardt.↩