860h.00/11–1345: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 16—2:23 p.m.]
649. There were no surface indications of irregularities in polling Sunday, but our means of observation were restricted and no check could be made on counting of ballots for opposition “without ticket”. Organized demonstrations were not as extensive as in pre-election period and mostly confined to small marching groups, military and civilian, in streets. Posters were numerous, particularly at polling booths, all eulogizing National Front and attacking opposition leaders. Tito’s picture displayed prominently everywhere. Opposition was mute.
Belgrade election results announced today show 91% of electorate participating, with Front candidates for General Assembly receiving 81.53% of votes cast to 18.47% of ticketless opposition, and for popular Assembly 83.20% to Front and 16.80% to opposition.
Information received from various sources within and without Belgrade indicate various forms of constraint employed by regime to force voters to polls, but we believe that people in general were sufficiently terrorized by polling time to make extraordinary compulsory measures unnecessary.