Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Central and Southeastern Europe, Volume XXVI

276. Telegram From the Embassy in Yugoslavia to the Department of State¹

Belgrade, May 11, 1956—7 p.m.

1386. Paris for USCINCEUR, Knight, and Wallner. Deptels 904 and 907.²

1. Simultaneously with my request yesterday for interview acting Foreign Secretary, Vukmanovic (Tempo) asked that Killen and I call today to discuss economic aid. As subject matter of our discussions is interrelated, it was arranged that I see Prica first and then Tempo. We have just come from these lengthy interviews which ranged over whole field of military and economic arrangements based on Murphy negotiations. Although our talks are not yet concluded and I shall probably resume with Prica on Monday, following is preliminary report and impressions.

2. With Prica, I followed paragraphs one to four almost verbatim as I fully concur with this approach.³ Only departure was my own elaboration with examples to buttress directly points made. (In background was information we had conveyed to Yugoslav Government yesterday that delivery of F–86s scheduled for May 14 had been temporarily suspended. No allusion was made to this in my interviews today and Yugoslavs seem therefore to be taking it calmly.) Prica took careful notes on what I had to say and said he would have to discuss it within Yugoslav Government.

3. Acting Foreign Secretary then made only brief reply which he said flowed from some of my remarks on May 7.⁴ He contended Yugoslav military had impression US did not intend carry out October 1 memorandum and cited figures of deliveries January–June 1955 of $73 million as compared with January–May 1956 of $12 million. Also DFS program was being changed and Yugoslav military encountered difficulty in receiving precise information on schedule of shipment. Therefore Yugoslav Government thought that military program was not going in normal way and US had disturbed spirit of October 1 agreement. I then proceeded to demolish this weak tu quo que argument with an array of facts, not omitting to remind Prica I had warned Yugoslav Government throughout last summer that failure to settle our difficulties would inevitably delay deliveries. He then begged off discussing implementation of program on plea he was not technically competent. I replied General Waters and I would be prepared to discuss his complaints with Gosnjak at any time. Prica then said my observations were most important, as would be my interview with Tempo, and Yugoslav Government must study them carefully. He proposed that we resume on May 14 as this would give time for study over weekend, to which I promptly agreed. He was most restrained in his replies and while I may be wrong, I sense sober second thoughts on Yugoslav part.

4. In three hour session held at his request, Tempo emphasized urgency and critical nature of Yugoslavia’s wheat situation this coming summer and prior to advent of new harvest. Full report of conversation will follow in separate message over weekend.⁵

5. In view of recent events and earlier statements, Tempo’s approach today was reasonably calm, and indicated no firm decision yet taken on wither wheat or Majdanpek. In spite of rather blunt statements by both of us at various points in conversation, Tempo’s reaction of restraint and caution.

6. I made a full exposé of the interrelationships existing between various facets of US programs in Yugoslavia and cited October 1 memorandum⁶ as basis for US-Yugoslav relations. With respect to economic affairs for which he has responsibility Tempo confirmed continuing validity that memorandum and volunteered to reflect our views to his colleagues in conversations over weekend.

7. If it is not too complicated to arrange, recommend that suspension of F–86Es be maintained until I can make further comment after May 14 interview. Concur with both DOD messsge of May 10 to USCINCEUR and CINCEUR to DOD May 10.⁷

Riddleberger

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 768.5–MSP/5–1156. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Paris.
2. Telegram 904 is supra. Telegram 907, May 9, informed Riddleberger that Beam had met with a Yugoslav Embassy official and informed him of U.S. “inability to understand Tempo’s ‘angry’ attitude and his blaming US entirely without justification for food situation confronting Yugoslav Govt.” (Department of State, Central Files, 768.5–MSP/5–956)
3. Reference is to telegram 904, supra.
4. See footnote 2, supra.
5. Telegram 1391 from Belgrade, May 13. (Department of State, Central Files, 768.5–MSP/5–1356)
6. The memorandum [1-1/2 pages of source text] was not declassified.
7. Neither found in Department of State files.