860H. 01/12–1844: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 18—6:04 p.m.]
Yugos 12. Ambassador Stevenson called on me today and said that the personal views of Churchill and Eden were favorable to the Tito–Subasic agreement and supplemental agreements, which they consider “the best possible under the circumstances”. He added that Stalin has telegraphed Churchill for his views.
He said that Churchill’s meeting with King Peter and Subasic has been postponed until later this week and Eden requests Secretary Stettinius’ views before the meeting occurs. Please reply urgently.
When Stevenson asked for my views, I replied along the lines reported in my 11 for December 17.
He responded that the Regency is [a?] recognition of the King, that the King might lose his position through process provided in agreements but our record would be clear and it was, of course, best not to involve ourselves in the internal affairs of these small countries.
He also told me that he intends to go to Belgrade as soon as the Regency is appointed, and expects that to be very soon.
Texts of two supplemental agreements signed by Tito and Subasic and unsigned communiqué, all dated Belgrade December 7, are given in clear in my three following telegrams.21
Repeated to Moscow as my 132 and Caserta as my 37.
- None printed; but see Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945, pp. 253–254.↩