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

No. 911

611.68/6–2551: Telegram

The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Allen) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret
 1979.…

Belgrade, June 25, 1951—5 p. m.

. . . . . . .

There is considerable evidence that Yugoslav Govt is now carrying on major pro-American educational campaign inside army and CPY as mentioned Weeka 25² and Embdesp 990, June 22 being pouched June 28³ reporting lecture given Yugoslav armed forces. Increasingly cordial attitude of Yugoslav officials and their reception of recent American visitors and correspondents has been noted.

Whatever motives for this campaign may be, it has undoubtedly been promoted by fortunate experience which Yugoslavs have had in obtaining prompt and effective assistance from Washington and in handling of food program by our observers here. Continuation of our present policy of winning Yugoslav confidence is especially important in view time required to have new Yugoslav line filter down to operating level in federal govt and particularly to remote republic govts, such as Macedonia. Resistance can be expected from hard-core of old-line theoretical Commies and from such Cominform remnants as may be left. Significance attaches this connection to recent arrests of former head metal workers union (Embtel 1729⁴), of Asst Minister Finance Voja Srzentic (Embtel 1889, June 11⁵), and removal during past few days of Goronovic, Asst Minister of Agriculture, and Leksic, of Health Ministry all of whom were strong Marxists and doubtless reluctant to trust capitalist west. I have no doubt number of further changes of officials will be necessary, particularly in middle and lower ranks, if progress is to be made in relaxation of police methods. Numerous lower Commie officials throughout Yugoslavia who are generally not Cominformists but who have ruled their communities with iron hand for past five years and know they are hated by majority of local population, fear for their necks if police relax suddenly.

Suggestion is even heard among foreign observers here that Tito is moving too fast towards west for his own good. There has been some grumbling inside CPY for several months, but I believe Tito’s position in country as whole has been strengthened by new orientation and that he will gradually remove those who are reluctant to go along.

Allen

1. Repeated to Paris, London, and Moscow.
2. Weeka 25 briefly noted several instances in which Yugoslav officers were being indoctrinated in a pro-American party line. (768.00(W)/6–2251)
3. Not printed.
4. Telegram 1729 summarized a report which appeared in Borba, Yugoslavia’s Communist Party newspaper, that Lazar Plavšić was arrested for maintaining contact with the Cominform underground in Belgrade. (768.00/5–2151)
5. Telegram 1889 informed the Department of State that Srzentic had been arrested following the disappearance from his office of files pertaining to the IBRD negotiations. (768.00/6–1151)