811.2360H/10–1546: Telegram
The Chargé in Yugoslavia (Shantz) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 15—10:17 a.m.]
1055. Reference Embtel 1039 October 8 and Deptel 672 October 7.97 Following note 11928 dated 11 received October 15, 10 a.m.:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the US Embassy and has the honor to refer to the Embassy’s note No. 496 of October 8 last98 acknowledging receipt of the sum of 150,000 US dollars which the Government of the FPRY by its note No. 11149 of September 20 last, inspired by human feelings towards the innocent families of the crashed airplane No. 4374 wished to allocate as an assistance to the next of kin of the crew.
“For reasons put forth in the Ministry’s note No. 9880 of August 20 last99 as well as in the letter of the President of the Yugoslav Govt and Acting Foreign Minister Marshal of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito to H. E. Richard C. Patterson Jr., US Ambassador, dated August 23 last,1 the Yugoslav Government has to persist in its view that it has to reject most decisively any responsibility for the regrettable accident and that accordingly it cannot accept the claim of the Government of the USA to pay any indemnity whatsoever for the planes. These [Page 967] planes were flying over Yugoslav territory definitely illegally under perfect weather conditions. The damage was in consequence caused through the fault of the crew which did not obey the orders of the Yugoslav authorities to land.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the US Embassy the assurance of its high consideration.”
- Neither printed; they were concerned with arrangement for delivery of the Embassy’s note of October 8 (811.2360H/9–2046 and 10–846).↩
- For summary, see Department of State Bulletin, October 20, 1946, p. 725.↩
- For summary, see telegram 813, August 20, from Belgrade, p. 925.↩
- For text of Marshal Tito’s letter of August 23, see Department of State Bulletin, September 1, 1946, p. 419.↩