811.2360H/8–1146: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Yugoslavia (Shantz)
534. Today’s press attributes to you statement “State Dept rep from Zagreb14 was told at the scene today that he could not see the interned passengers or crew members”. If this is fact you are authorized to inform FonOff that we are investigating this and other cases mentioned in FonOff note of Aug 10 (Embtel 780 11th) but that refusal of Yugo authorities to permit Amer consular officer access to plane crew and passengers is not only impeding US Govt in this endeavor but is also contrary to accepted principle of international law inherent in friendly relations between states whereby recognized consular officers have free right of access to their nationals within country in which stationed.15
- The American Consul at Zagreb, Theodore J. Hohenthal.↩
- Telegram 789, August 14, from Belgrade, reported that Chargé Shantz had protested orally to Acting Foreign Minister Velebit on August 12, had sent a written protest to the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry on August 13, and had sent a second written note, along the lines set forth in this telegram, on August 14, all without result (811.2360H/8–1446). Texts of the Embassy’s notes of August 13 and 14 were transmitted to the Department in telegrams 866 and 867, September 1, neither printed.↩