811.2360H/9–1846: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received September 19—4:22 p.m.]
940. ReEmbtel 939, September 18.76 Spy ring charges made by Yugo Govt prove extreme danger involved for Embassy military or civilian staff in seeking information outside official channel in country under neurotic Communist control. We recommend full story be given to Intelligence Sections of Army, Navy and State.
Charges are dangerous mixture of fact and fiction. Embassy personnel probably had contacts of informational nature with most Yugoslavs named. Testimony quoted shows that Americans were seeking information from all sources on all subjects generally reported on by military and naval attachés as well as economic and political officers. Yugoslav authorities make little information public and it is criminal for anyone to give out even such statistical information as is printed in great volume by US Govt departments.
So far as we are aware there can be no just ground for charging Embassy personnel with involvement in plots against Govt for furnishing means of escape from country. Embassy is frequently approached by persons of all classes for aid in escaping and has invariably refused any assistance whatever.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shantz states as follows: “To best of my belief I never saw nor communicated with any Yugoslav mentioned except those on Embassy staff. During my first week in Belgrade I warned staff against probable eventual arrest of any Yugoslav with whom they associated. I told them that I personally would not associate with any Yugoslavs outside of Govt circles, and I have never met any except at large functions. Stefanovic was our No. 2 translator and my relations with him were same as with other Embassy employees.”
I have complete confidence in this statement and in integrity of Shantz.
We still do not know what Tito meant by threatening to make trial public or secret depending on our attitude. While record submitted is flimsy by our standards it is obviously sufficient for Yugoslavia to conduct highly scandalous public trial.
[Page 955]Confidential sources have told us that Yugoslav Govt has long been “out to get the Embassy”; that they are still working on case and have data involving eight more staff members. We well know what a travesty on justice Yugoslav trials are. It seems probable that all Yugoslavs arrested will be found guilty and sentenced to death or long imprisonment.
Wife of one Yugoslav arrested told us she approached OZNA chief for Serbia regarding her husband and that he replied: “It isn’t important whether he is innocent or not so long as we have caught one of them to make an affair of it—we must do things to ‘quiet’ some of the reactionary Embassies.”
We are concerned over safety of Americans named by Yugoslavs. Shantz and Birkeland77 have diplomatic status, but Constan,78 Cebuhar79 and Sgt Allen80 have not; and this brings up question whether we should not have them leave Yugoslavia quickly if possible.81 FonOff last week refused permit for Allen to go to nearby town. Birkeland after long delay was granted exit and reentry visa for trip to Italy.
- Not printed; in this telegram Ambassador Patterson reported that in reply to his oral request of Marshal Tito for information regarding the alleged terrorist plot involving Embassy personnel, he had received a letter from the Acting Chief of Tito’s Cabinet (Vlahov) enclosing a 22-page memorandum in Serbo-Croatian from the Ministry of Interior entitled “Information on Unfriendly Work of American Representatives in Belgrade”. (811.2360H/9–1846) Texts of the memorandum and letter were transmitted to the Department in despatch 498, September 13, from Belgrade, none printed.↩
- Capt. Paul M. Birkeland. Assistant Military Attaché.↩
- Peter K. Constan, Vice Consul at Zagreb.↩
- Steve Cebuhar, Administrative Assistant at Zagreb.↩
- Sgt. George Allen, on the staff of the Military Attaché at Belgrade.↩
- The Yugoslav Government had named seven other persons formerly assigned to the Embassy in Belgrade but no longer in Yugoslavia.↩