Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

740.0011 Stettinius Mission/29: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, April 15, 1944—6 p.m.
[Received April 15—3:15 p.m.]

3088. Deles⁶⁴ No. 13. In touching briefly on the Yugoslav problem and in reply to our question Sir Orme Sargent⁶⁵ remarked that somewhat to British surprise King Peter’s marriage⁶⁶ had been subject to considerable disapproval in Yugoslavia and particularly in old Serbia. He feels that it is too early to estimate how seriously this has affected the King’s standing among the bulk of the Serbian population but that the marriage has certainly not increased his prestige or popularity.

Both Mr. Eden and Sargent have admitted in conversation that there is no doubt of Mihailovich’s great popularity in Serbia. Their information confirms the Department’s feeling that he is regarded almost as a Messiah in that area.

Winant

64. Designation for a series of telegrams from the Under Secretary of State to the Department in connection with his mission to London in April 1944. For the Under Secretary’s report to the Secretary of State on his conversations in London, April 7 to April 29, 1944, see vol. iii, pp. 1 ff.
65. Sir Orme G. Sargent, Deputy Under Secretary of State in the British Foreign Office.
66. King Peter was married to Princess Alexandra of Greece in London on March 20, 1944.