860H.01/675
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government, whose aim has been while continuing to recognise the Yugoslav Government in Cairo, to work for the unity of all elements determined to fight against the enemy in the restoration of Yugoslav independence, has been gravely concerned with the recent polemics between the Partisans and the Yugoslav Government.
On December 14th a memorandum on recent developments in Yugoslavia was handed to the Soviet Ambassador when he called on Sir Alexander Cadogan.79 A summary of the contents of this memorandum was given to the State Department on December 21st.80
The memorandum began by referring to report by Partisan radio station “Free Yugoslavia” of establishment of Supreme Legislative Committee and Executive National Committee and then stated that His Majesty’s Government understand the need for these administrative methods but do not consider that this development need affect their present policy towards Yugoslavia nor their present relations with the Partisan movement. They have for some time recognised that the Partisans are a considerable military force and therefore entitled to their full military support. During recent months they have been sending them assistance and propose to continue doing so, increasing its quantity to the fullest extent feasible. For the rest, they hope that in the interests of Yugoslavia unity it may be possible for General Tito, on the one hand, and the King and the Yugoslav Government on the other, to find a basis for collaboration together, in the common task of freeing Yugoslavia and thus enabling the people to pronounce freely on the form of Government which they desire to live under after the war. Memorandum concluded by asking whether Soviet Government shares these views.
On December 20th the Soviet Ambassador called on Mr. Eden and handed him a message (Annex A)80 from the Soviet Government replying to Mr. Eden’s memorandum of December 13th. An account [Page 1038] of Mr. Eden’s conversation with the Soviet Ambassador is attached (Annex B).81
Instructions were sent on December 23rd to His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires in Moscow to see M. Molotov82 and tell him that Mr. Eden was most gratified to receive from the Soviet Ambassador on December 20th message which he brought him from the Soviet Government about Yugoslavia. Mr. Eden much appreciates the readiness of the Soviet Government to do everything in their power to help to find a compromise between the various parties.
His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires was instructed to say that His Majesty’s Government are examining the situation and Mr. Eden hopes shortly to give to the Soviet Government the view of His Majesty’s Government. In the meanwhile the head of the British Mission with the Partisans, who is at present in Egypt, has been instructed to return to Yugoslavia and to examine the whole situation with Marshal Tito with a view to ascertaining what basis there is for unifying all forces of resistance both in and outside Yugoslavia and of bringing together contending parties.
His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires in conclusion was to say that Mr. Eden would be grateful for any suggestions which the Soviet Government might have in mind for achieving this object.