860H.20/12–2645: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—2:53 a.m.]
798. We estimate present Yugo Army is from 550,000 to 600,000 men including security police and militia but excluding Air Force and Navy. We cannot obtain actual rates of demobilization and recruitment at present. Apparently not many recruits have been called up in past few months and demobilization is taking place in accordance with law of October 26 releasing all men except those born in 1920 to 26 inclusive. Demobilization of officers is dependent [apparent omission] army proper is concerned since secret police is more effective instrument for this purpose and presumably will be kept at any level required.
Army is not generally used for productive purposes but has sometimes been used on special emergency jobs such as bridge building and some harvesting. Failure to use army regularly for productive work probably due mainly to desire to maintain its prestige especially since large numbers of POW’s have been used for road repair, etc.
We do not wish to change [charge?] that Yugo Govt is making direct political use of UNRRA supplies. Valid evidence is scant and substantiation difficult. Moreover, we feel that question is academic. Whether army garrison near a given town uses UNRRA food or whether it requisitions so much local food that community has to be maintained by UNRRA food does not seem vital. We believe that govt uses food, clothing and medical supplies in general as political weapons. Opponents of regime cannot get “character records”, cannot therefore get work, have to exist on less rations than workers and are often unable to get certain supplies including some medicines available to workers. UNRRA supplies therefore assist govt to carry out discrimination even though govt may avoid actual unfairness in use of UNRRA items alone.
Our Military Attaché56 has seen large quantities of US Army shoes worn by Yugo soldiers and being transported in Yugo trucks to military headquarters.
Following two contradictory beliefs each held by members [numbers?] of people: 1. That bulk of UNRRA supplies come from Russia. 2. That bulk comes from USA and England and will have to be paid for by Yugo Govt.
[Page 1057]It appears that the Yugo Govt will pay the American people for their part in supporting UNRRA only by ingratitude. Yugo propaganda has taken no effective steps to counter the above beliefs. It never mentions that USA supplies bulk of UNRRA funds and goods or that any come from Britain. It continues to circulate only unfavorable news about USA and only favorable news about USSR. Speakers at group meetings often credit Russia for UNRRA help although numbers of persons have told us they are not deceived and know it comes from America.
- Col. Douglas B. Smith.↩