Office of the Historian

860H.01/581: Telegram

The Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State

Cairo, December 16, 1943—7 p.m.
[Received December 20—10:42 a.m.]

6. [Yugoslav Series.] British Ambassador Stevenson has made available to me copies of two telegrams, the first dated December 7, [Page 1030] from the British Foreign Office to the British Embassy at Washington, and repeated to Cairo, and the second dated December 12 from Ambassador Stevenson to the British Foreign Office regarding a proposed change in the British policy toward General Mihailovitch. The text of these messages is being transmitted to the Department by airgram.69

In its message to Washington the Foreign Office states that it has under reconsideration its whole policy toward resistance movements in Yugoslavia as a result of a report from the British liaison officer with the Partisans,70 a copy of which has been sent to the Embassy in Washington for transmission to the State Department71 and also as a result of other reports from liaison officers with Mihailovitch. On the basis of this information which is given in detail the British Foreign Office is considering the possibility of suggesting to King Peter that Mihailovitch be summoned to Cairo and replaced by a commander who would cooperate with the Partisans.

If Mihailovitch’s subordinate leaders would follow such a new commander, it might be hoped that his removal would not only contribute considerably to the military effort of the Allies but also achieve unity without necessarily sacrificing the King, toward whom Tito’s attitude is at present noncommittal. The message concludes that no action should be taken pending further advice concerning the matter at which time the State Department should be asked whether it agrees.

In his message of December 12, Ambassador Stevenson reports that he has orally informed the Middle East Defense Council of Mr. Churchill’s conversations with the King and the Yugoslav Prime Minister (see my 5, December 16, 10 a.m.) and has advised the Council that a plan of action will be proposed to it shortly. The plan for which he seeks the approval of the Foreign Office before formal submission to the Council is that:

1.
If Mihailovitch successfully carries out an operation reported to the Foreign Office in a previous telegram, consideration should be given to the question of continuing to support him militarily but his removal from the Cabinet in any case should be sought.
2.
If he does not carry out this operation, the British Ambassador should be authorized to hand the Yugoslav Prime Minister a note the draft text of which is quoted and is in substance that:
Mihailovitch has for sometime declined to cooperate with the Commander-in-Chief Middle East in undertaking operations against the enemy and the British Government is therefore withdrawing its military missions from his forces and ceasing to send him supplies and money.
3.
The Ambassador should at same time advise King Peter and urge him to eliminate Mihailovitch from the Government and as Commander-in-Chief simultaneously ordering forces under Mihailovitch’s command to cooperate with the Partisans.
4.
Commander-in-Chief Middle East should advise Tito of the decision and inform him that the King orders him to collaborate with the Cetniks against the enemy and
5.
An intensive propaganda campaign should be undertaken toward cooperation between Partisans and Cetniks.

The message concludes that the American Ambassador is being kept fully informed and urges that the American Government’s “agreement and support” for this change of policy be obtained and also that the Soviet Government be fully advised and its support secured for the action contemplated with Tito.

In furnishing me these messages Ambassador Stevenson said that if he is authorized to hand Prime Minister Povitch [Puritch?] the note mentioned in paragraph 2 above he is convinced the latter will resign since he and his supporters regard Mihailovitch “not as a man but as a symbol of Serbian resistance”. Stevenson anticipates that the new government then to be formed would be headed by Cubrilovitch72 with Jukitch73 (see my 2, December 9, 8 p.m.74) as Minister for Foreign Affairs and that it would not be unfavorably disposed to attempting in some sort of at least practical rapprochement with the Partisans.

MacVeagh
  1. Airgram No. 1, December 17, 1943, 10 a.m., not printed.↩
  2. Brig. Fitzroy Hew MacLean, head of the British Military Mission to the Tugoslay Partisans.↩
  3. Not found in Department files.↩
  4. Presumably Branko Cubrilović, former Minister of Agriculture.↩
  5. Ilija Jukić, former Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
  6. Not printed.↩