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

No. 898

768.56/5–1751: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Yugoslavia ¹

top secret

Washington, May 17, 1951—6 p. m.

1286. Eyes only Amb. Dept today informed senior dipl reps on Tripartite Comite on Mil Assistance to Yugo² as fol:

(a) US Govt is prepared designate appropriate service reps to join corresponding Brit and French reps in direct consultations at early date with Yugo officials to obtain info and data on question of Yugo mil requirements. US wld prefer hold such consultations in Belgrade or if that not feasible in Wash or Paris in that order. US considers arrangements these conversations with Yugo shld be undertaken after tripartite agreement reached on such matters as size, composition of tripartite group, terms reference, and preferred and alternate loci for talks.

(b) Meanwhile US initiating measures looking to early technical conversations with Yugo officials to effect urgent implementation that part of matériel assistance which it has undertaken to fulfill. It is noted that Brit-Yugo discussions of similar character are planned. US will have no objection to participation in proposed US-Yugo talks on observer basis of one rep each from UK and France provided this arrangement reciprocal.

(c) Although for practical reasons it will probably not be possible to conduct proposed quadripartite and bilateral conversations concurrently or in same place, from US viewpoint close coordination various discussions and continuing exchange info among three govts will be desirable.

Foregoing FYI only. Conversations referred to in (b) above are those proposed in communication quoted Deptel 1285.³

Acheson

1. Drafted by Huston. Repeated to London and Paris.
2. Concerning this committee, meeting in Washington, see Document 887.
3. In telegram 1285 to Belgrade, May 17, the Department of State informed Ambassador Allen of its communication with Yugoslav officials concerning the initiation of bilateral technical conversations between military representatives from both governments for the purpose of clarifying questions arising out of Yugoslav military requirements. (768.56/5–1751)