768.13/6–1251: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Allen) to the Secretary of State 1
1893. Min of Interior Rankovic has left Belgrade on vacation trip of several weeks in Switz, France, Belgium, Holland and UK. This is his first visit to these countries, and I understand that he was urged to go by Kardelj, Djilas and Pijade in belief he shld become better acquainted with western life.
Rankovic ranks third in Yugo hierarchy, immediately after Tito and Kardelj, both of whom have recently been ill. Since Rankovic is generally regarded as responsible for repressive measures of present regime, it is likely that Tito and Politburo also felt visit wld enable western officials to form better impression by meeting him in person. He is affable and mild-mannered, although not generally regarded as astute, and knows no western language.
Since Rankovic is Serb, he is particularly hated by Croat Nationalists, whose organization he has repressed with great severity. French police, under whose eyes King Alexander was assassinated by Ustaski Marseilles in 1934, will undoubtedly take special precautions during Rankovic sojourn in Paris.
While visit has not become widely known here, YuGov has not made special request for either secrecy or security.
There has been some speculation during past few months that Djilas, a Montenegrin, was moving up to third place in Politburo. [Page 1802] He and Rankovic, while serving in civilian posts at present, are both colonel generals in Yugo Army, and struggle for succession might possibly ensue if Tito and Kardelj were incapacitated. Rankovic has been endeavoring recently to overcome stigma of police chief, I suspect on Tito’s advice and present visit may be part of broadening process.
- Repeated to Bern, Paris, London, The Hague, and Brussels.↩