860H.01/12–1744: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 17—10:42 p.m.]
Yugos 11. Reference my 9, December 14.18 I saw Subasic twice yesterday. He seems much disturbed by King Peter’s coolness towards him and repeated postponement of meeting with Churchill which is now scheduled for Monday 18th.
Returning my call yesterday morning Subasic gave me translations of his agreement with Tito of November 1 (reference Schoenfeld’s despatch 18 of November 819) and supplemental agreements mentioned in my 8 of December 12. Texts, sent Department by air despatch 7 of December 16,20 are so vague as to be subject to almost any interpretation desired by proposed Tito Government.
Last night Subasic called at my hotel rooms and gave me copies of his answers to 14 questions asked by British Foreign Office regarding the agreements. I am sending texts of these by air today. Subasic’s answers evade the issues and suggest that he realizes his inability to make interpretations with any assurance that Tito would accept them. Only unequivocal answer of importance he makes is that “the National Liberation Army will, immediately after the forming of the government, be declared to be the regular army. Outside this army, there will be no military formations”.
In answer to Foreign Office questions as to how and when the constituent assembly will be elected, Subasic merely refers to statement in agreement that the elections “will be decided upon within 3 months of liberation of the whole country” and “will be held in accordance with the law for the constituent assembly which will be enacted in good time”.
In this connection General Velebit said in a press conference on December 13 that no decision had been reached as to how the Yugoslavs would choose between monarchial and republican forms of government. He said, “a plebiscite, a constituent assembly or normal parliamentary action under article 116 of existing constitution after [Page 1440] the holding of elections are all possibilities”. Subsequently, I learned in strict confidence, Subasic told Velebit not to make any more statements to the press.
Repeated to Caserta as my 36 and Moscow as 131.
- Not printed.↩
- Despatch not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945, p. 250.↩