860H.01/11–2144: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (Patterson)89 to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:45 p.m.]
Yugos 4. Following is summary of a conversation between King Peter and Churchill on November 17, as given Yarrow by the King.
Churchill, holding in his hand draft agreement between Tito and Subasic, received King with comment that it might be worse and constitutional monarchy has at least been recognized for time being. King replied that he would not sign agreement for it is tantamount to abdication. King said regency was only a form to gain recognition by United States and Britain. New Government is to take oath to people not to King. Churchill said King knew he was opposed to regency. He had expected Subasic to oppose it. Now he would have to see what could be done about it. He reminded King that agreement is concession by Tito and Tito is in power at present.
King spoke vehemently against Subasic for going to Moscow90 from Yugoslavia instead of reporting to him first, and indicated desire to disavow Subasic. Churchill replied equally vehemently that King should take no such premature action. He said he had asked Stalin personally to take no decision on the agreement during his talks with Subasic in Moscow, giving as reason that Subasic had not yet reported to his King and he, Churchill, had not had opportunity to study agreement. Stalin, he said, had agreed to this.
During the course of the conversation the King said to Churchill, “I have been following your advice, Mr. Prime Minister, for the last two years and look where I am today.” Churchill replied, “Would you have fared better, Your Majesty, had you followed Mihailovic?”
The King assured Churchill that he would not do anything for the time being and would follow Churchill’s advice again by waiting to discuss the whole matter with him when Subasic returns.
- Richard C. Patterson, Jr., who had been appointed on September 21, 1944, Ambassador to the Government of Yugoslavia, then established in London, presented his credentials to King Peter on November 17.↩
- Prime Minister Subasić after concluding his talks with Marshal Tito went to Moscow, arriving there on November 20.↩