860H.01/572: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Bucknell) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—10:05 p.m.]
8549. Question was asked in House of Commons today concerning attitude of British Government toward Yugoslav Government in Cairo and committees said to have been set up in Yugoslavia by Partisan General Tito. Mr. Richard Law, Minister of State, answered that he had no information beyond that appearing in press to effect that two committees, one with status of a temporary government, had been set up under General Tito. He added that he was not yet in a position to say what would be the relationship of these bodies “with King Peter and his Government, recognized by His Majesty’s Government as the legitimate Yugoslav Government, and now established in Cairo”. Asked if British Government “still supported General Mihailovitch”, Mr. Law said that “our policy is to support all forces in Yugoslavia who are resisting the Germans”. He added that, “as things are, we are supporting the Partisan forces and giving them more support than General Mihailovitch for the simple reason that the resistance of the Partisan forces to the Germans is very much greater”. A Member of House of Commons asked if Mr. Law realized this situation might present British Government with first opportunity to carry into effect principles it had enunciated of recognizing Governments in liberated territories duly chosen by the people liberated. Press states that Mr. Law replied that inquirer was mistaken in saying situation gave an opportunity now; but that it would certainly give an opportunity when territory was liberated, and that British policy “had always been to allow territories when they are liberated to choose their own form of Government”.
Only recent editorial on Yugoslav dissensions appears in today’s Manchester Guardian. It speaks of action of Yugoslav Government in Cairo in condemning formation of committees by Partisans, and declare that Government “will do itself no good in Yugoslavia if it condemns the men who have carried on this heroic warfare at home”. Editorial asserts: “The people of Yugoslavia have good reason to know what these men have done for them. The Allies could hardly disown the forces whose importance to the common effort has been [Page 1023] recognized publicly by the Allied Commander-in-Chief.” Reference is to recent statements by Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, commanding British forces in Middle East.