811.2360H/8–3146: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received September 1—10:25 p.m.]
864. For the Secretary. My 101 August 30.57 At conference with Tito today requested proper written confirmation his oral statement to me on August 22 that he had given orders to prevent further shooting down of American aircraft. I said this and some written expression of regret by Yugoslav Govt at loss of American lives, which he had also expressed to me orally, would seem to be in accordance his promise that he would confirm his statements in writing.
I said I made this request on instructions from you and that reply will have direct effect on future course of American Govt towards these incidents which we pointed out in our note of August 21 will be determined in light of evidence and efforts of Yugoslav Govt to right wrong done.
Tito promised written reply tomorrow.58
He then informed us he had just sent note to State Dept thru Yugoslav Chargé in Washington requesting answer his notes August 9 and 19 asking what steps were taken to prevent further violation Yugoslav territory by American aircraft.59 Tito said he had received two verbal assurances from me that these violations would be stopped. [Page 943] He was now asking for three things (1) official guarantee violations would stop; (2) that pilots and others responsible for future violations would be punished; and (3) agreement on signals for pilots in difficulty to communicate with Yugoslav pilots and people on ground for assistance.
He was “sorry to say” far from ceasing, unauthorized flights over Yugoslav territory continued in increasing numbers every day. He read details for August 28 when 4 fighters and 2 bombers were allegedly spotted over Potkoren (northwesternmost Yugoslavia) and Slovenska Bistrica. On 29th he asserted 20 planes, namely 14 bombers, 2 transports, and 4 fighters flew over Yugoslav territory without authorization. He concluded this showed no measures have yet been taken to prevent further violations of Yugoslav territory.
I promised immediate investigation of his charges. Will report remainder conversation in next telegram.
Sent Paris for Secretary Byrnes as 103.
- Not printed; this telegram from Belgrade to Paris, for the Secretary of State, reported that Ambassador Patterson had finally been able to make an appointment with Marshal Tito scheduled for August 31, 11 a.m. (811.2360H/9–746).↩
- Text of Marshal Tito’s note of August 31 to Ambassador Patterson is embodied in the note of September 3, 1946, from Acting Secretary Clayton to the Yugoslav Chargé, Department of State Bulletin, September 15, 1946, p. 505.↩
- Reference is to the note of August 30 from the Yugoslav Chargé to the Acting Secretary of State, p. 934.↩