860H.01/12–2244: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:25 p.m.]
Yugos 17. King Peter told Yarrow today that in response to his request to Churchill for a private meeting, he saw Churchill, Eden and Stevenson yesterday. He handed them a memo regarding article 42 of the Yugoslav Constitution which gives the King the right to appoint three regents and their deputies. He told Churchill he did not want to force himself on the Yugoslav people, who had the right to choose their form of government, but he insisted on his constitutional [Page 1443] right to appoint the regents; and the Tito–Subasic regency agreement was not constitutional.
Churchill commented that Tito has done many unconstitutional things and will probably do more, but since he had the power, what could be done about it?
Peter reiterated that he wanted to designate the regents, and he would accept the agreements otherwise. To this Churchill replied that “you can’t accept one part of the agreement and reject another. You should accept it entirely and wholeheartedly. There is no time to change it”.
The King answered that Tito and Subasic took 2 months to agree and he thought himself entitled to a couple of weeks. The meeting ended with both Peter and Churchill asking the other to think the matter over further.
After relating the above to Yarrow, Peter added, “At least I gained some time. I will sign if I can name the regents, otherwise I will refuse”.
Repeated to Moscow as my 136 and Caserta as my 40.