860H.20/94
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to the Yugoslav Ambassador (Fotitch)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have given further attention to the memorandum which you left with me on December 19, in which you quoted the text of a report recently made by General Mihailovich concerning the military action against the Ustashis, Germans, and Italians in Croatia, and have noted particularly General Mihailovich’s statement that whatever Partisan fighting is now in progress against the forces of occupation and the Ustashis in Croatia is carried on by units under General Mihailovićh’s command. The series of newspaper articles to which you referred have also come to my attention. In this connection I have also given further study to your memorandum of December 16, which contained related information.
As I have repeatedly assured you, the Government of the United States has complete confidence in the patriotism of General Mihailovich, and full admiration for the skill, endurance, and valor with which he and the Yugoslav patriots associated with him have continued their noble struggle for the liberation of their country. We consider that the military actions in Yugoslavia to which you refer constitute an important element in the general conduct of the war of the United Nations against the Axis powers.
Believe me,
Yours very sincerely,