740.00116 European War 1939/560
The Minister to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 21.]
Sir: Supplementing my Despatch Yugoslav Series No. 22 of September 9, 1942, I have the honor to forward hereto attached copy of a [Page 814] formal note25 which Yugoslav Prime Minister Jovanović sent to Russian Ambassador Bogomolov on September 2, in connection with accusations made against General Mihailović, and setting forth certain information concerning the fratricidal struggle in Yugoslavia. In his note Prime Minister Jovanović quotes a message of August 11, from General Mihailović stating that more than 10,000 Yugoslav citizens had become victims of crimes against the Serbians; that because of these crimes the Serbian people regarded the Partisan units as a collection of international criminals, most of them brought in from abroad; that the people had risen up and had cleared the Partisans out of Serbia, Sandzak, Montenegro, Hercegovina, Dalmatia, Lika and Bosnia. The General, moreover, urged that an inquiry be held concerning the numerous and unprecedented crimes. The Serbian people, he emphasised, desired a Russian victory, but were opposed to these atrocities which were in no way connected With the Russian people.
Prime Minister Jovanović subsequently quotes another message of August 23, from General Mihailović, wherein the General gave the names of prominent patriots killed by the Partisans. (See attached enclosure 1)25 The General emphasised that these people had not been killed on the battlefield but as peaceful citizens.
Respectfully yours,