860H.00/7–1246: Telegram
The Chargé in Yugoslavia (Shantz) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 12—10:33 p.m.]
673. Urtel 441, July 10.96 Foreign Office note July 4, acknowledges ours June 4.97 Following is body of text translated from French, omitting articles:
Principal obstacle to solution of question of Embassy’s airplane and other aviation problems in suspense is caused by constant flights over Yugoslav northwest frontier by Allied combat and transport airplanes. In spite of reiterated requests, flights over Yugoslav territory continue unceasingly.
Yugoslav Government considers it certainly desirable that attainment of mutual goodwill be reached, not by restriction privileges, but by elimination obstacles which are source of misunderstandings. On other hand, request of Yugoslav Government concerning maritime [Page 911] and river navigation and rail communications have not, after more than year, received from Allies favorable reception which Yugoslav Government believed it could expect.
Yugoslav Government has not, up to now, succeeded in recovering units of its merchant marine.
As regards river navigation, 166 Yugoslav units are still above Linz and have not yet been restored to Yugoslavia which has not been able to use them for reconstruction of country.
On subject of rail communications, question of traffic across American and English zones occupation in Austria have not yet received favorable solution.
Nevertheless, these three questions have vital importance for Yugoslavia. It is, therefore, hardly fair to demand from Yugoslav Government solution only of question of civil aviation so long as those of other communications which have primary interest for Yugoslavia are neglected.