Office of the Historian

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

Belgrade, May 17, 1957—6 p.m.

1585. Following is summary prepared statement read today by Foreign Secretary spokesman concerning resumption US military aid: [Page 775]

State Department communiqué gives grounds on which decision carry out previously approved military deliveries to Yugoslavia is based. Approval includes interpretation of state of relations between Yugoslavia and third countries. No doubt that Yugoslav Government will examine this question from standpoint political interests and practical needs of Yugoslavia. Question is raised whether aid can be made dependent on appraisal Yugoslav relations with third countries. Is practice periodic re-examination previously approved delivery programs on political grounds in conformity our interests? Finally do method and rate implementation of deliveries correspond to our needs? Yugoslav Government’s attitude was set by Defense Minister Gosnjak before Peoples Assembly on December 27.2

Spokesman refused to elaborate in response to questions. Statement interpreted here as Yugoslav effort put the record straight from their basic viewpoint in same manner as similar statements which followed President Eisenhower’s October 16 determination on resumption economic aid, that is, that no real reason for suspension ever existed.3 Yugoslav sources privately interpret US decision to resume military aid as recognition of “correctness” and “consistency” Yugoslav foreign policy which, they argue “does not vacillate as do policies toward Yugoslavia of great powers.”

After this face-saving declaration of “independence,” Yugoslavs undoubtedly will gladly accept deliveries.

In discussing matter with General Waters today, Yugoslav military expressed satisfaction and merely requested more precise information on meaning of announcement.

Riddleberger
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 768.5–MSP/5–1757. Official Use Only. Also sent to Moscow, London, and Paris.↩
  2. An account of the speech was sent to the Department in telegram 918 from Belgrade, December 28, 1956, with additional analysis provided in telegram 921, December 29. According to that telegram, Gosnjak related the difficulties Yugoslavia had encountered in obtaining aircraft from the West, and stated that in the future Yugoslavia would purchase its needed military equipment, rather than relying on grants. (Ibid., 768.5–MSP/12–2856 and 768.5/12–2956)↩
  3. See footnote 2, Document 291.↩