Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

811.2360H/8–3146: Telegram

The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson) to the Secretary of State

secret
us urgent

Belgrade, August 31, 1946—10 p.m.
[Received September 1—11:05 a.m.]

865. For the Secretary. Mytel 103, August 31.⁶⁰ After presenting Tito request for written confirmation his statements regarding our planes we got up to leave, wishing not to cloud issue by bringing up other subjects. Tito asked us to wait saying he had some things to bring up. Following is summary of what followed.

Tito accused my Embassy staff of complicity in two anti-Yugoslav incidents:

(1) He said in Belgrade restaurant August 28, three US soldiers were drinking. One suddenly tore Yugoslav flag from wall threw it on floor, spat and trampled on it. One man in trio was Walter L. Florek of Graves Registration Unit.⁶¹

(2) Yugoslav organs of security caught group of very dangerous terrorists who have been working in close touch with American Embassy. Tito said three members of my staff are implicated. The group had two tasks: (1) to collect information and (2) to prepare terroristic acts. For second purpose they got weapons from some members of American Embassy. He promised to give me full evidence in support of these charges.

In reply to these amazing accusations I said I would make immediate investigation; I had complete confidence in integrity of my present staff. I added if any truth in either charge, and I didn’t doubt Marshal’s word but questioned his sources, would take immediate action to have guilty personnel removed from Yugoslavia.

I then took opportunity to tell him that I hoped he would continue personally as leader of Yugoslavia provided that he restored four freedoms now lacking in this country; in my opinion under present conditions Yugoslav Government would not get dime or pair of shoes from my Government.

Tito replied he was extremely sorry his Government would not receive US help under present conditions, that I seemingly could not understand that his Government is obliged to take very severe measures against terroristic groups seeking to change Government by force unfortunately sometimes aided or encouraged by representatives of Western Powers. He did not deny lack of freedom in Yugoslavia but said new Yugoslavia is only year and half old. He wondered if I realized how conditions were in America in its early years of independence. He said “in forming new state you have to employ more severe measures than ordinarily and freedom of majority is more important than freedom of minority”.

I then said I did not believe he represented majority, that elections in my opinion were fraudulent, voters were driven to polls by intimidation and coercion. In genuine elections his Government would have lost. Tito said “they were freest elections in Yugoslav history”. I explained “majority would have voted against communism. Your personal popularity is something else”. Tito said not possible to separate actual situation in country and his personality.

He returned to question of terrorists saying he wanted it settled between Yugoslavia and US Governments and attitude of US Government will determine whether Yugoslavia will publicize trial of terrorists to be held soon. In his opinion it is necessary to show good will to settle our mutual difficulties whether they be factual or not. “If we continue to accuse each other we will never get anywhere”. I said “you cannot get good will by shooting down American planes;” he rejoined “neither by violating our territory.”

He then launched into discourse on bullying attitude of some big powers towards small countries despite promises in Atlantic Charter.⁶² He said Yugoslavia will never allow itself to be humiliated, is ready to give all sacrifices for liberty, repeated large proportional contribution of Yugoslavia to war effort.

I said he talked about goodwill to me but in all his public speeches referred only to Russia and Stalin, never to US and Truman. He said in essence this was in direct proportion to amount of aid given Yugoslavia by Russia and US. I pointed to UNRRA and America’s preponderant contribution thereto. He admitted Yugoslavia indebtedness to UNRRA but said UNRRA is international organization of United Nations designed to help rebuild countries which suffered in war and were battlefields. He recalled destruction of Yugoslavia was caused not only by Germans but also by local fighting and allied planes. He asserted in talk with La Guardia he acknowledged UNRRA help. He denied my assertion that his regime had exercised political discrimination in distribution of UNRRA goods.

Conversation ended on note of need for goodwill and he said “you and I can do much to promote it”. I asked that our disbursing officer Kaiser be cleared of blackmarket charges since all such responsibility must be mine even though I was in America at the time. I said unfair dollar rate fixed arbitrarily by Yugoslavs was contributing cause to black market operations which Embassy some time ago abandoned. I asked for refund of approximately $8,000 belonging to small salaried members my staff confiscated by Yugoslav authorities in black market raids. Tito promised to look into these matters.

Session while intense was salutary. Accusations against my staff are puzzling. While conceivably having some basis they may also be trumped up effort to restore his position following plane episode.

Sent Paris for Secretary Byrnes as 104.

Patterson

60. Same as telegram 864, August 31, from Belgrade, supra.
61. In his telegram 870, September 2, from Belgrade, Patterson reported as follows regarding Tito’s complaint: “Regarding Tito’s accusation that US soldiers defiled Yugoslav flag we promptly investigated, found guilty party, PFC Walter L. Florek of GRU, obtained his confession from which it is evident he acted under extreme provocation. I am taking him with me by plane to Vienna this afternoon to turn him over to our Provost Marshal for trial. I have so informed Tito with oral apology through Velebit who seemed surprised and pleased by promptness our action. I promised written apology quickly.” (811.2360H/9–246)
62. Joint statement by President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill, August 14, 1941, Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, p. 367.