811.2360H/9–1846: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Patterson)
708. Urdes 498, Sept 13,6 Deptel 618 Sept 21.7 Dept notes that memo Ministry Interior enclosed with Col Vlahov’s letter of Sept 10 refers to material as “information on the unfriendly work of American representatives in Belgrade”.
Before entering upon any detailed discussion material in question, Dept desires you or Shantz to have informal conversation with Col Vlahov with view to developing (a) whether it was in fact his intention as indicated in his letter to furnish this “information” personally and informally; (b) whether Yugoslav Govt formally associates itself with allegations embodied in this material; and (c) what more precisely [Page 969] are objectives Yugoslav authorities seek to attain by bringing this “information” your attention?
You may, if you see fit, point out that allegations contained in material in so far as they concern members American Embassy appear vague, tendencious, and unsupported and say that phrasing Col Vlahov’s letter and manner in which material was submitted suggest that Yugoslav authorities are also this opinion. Your efforts should be directed toward developing facts situation rather than toward taking final position this time.
Re statement your telegram 940, Sept 18 concerning Tito’s “threatening to make trial public or secret depending on our attitude” Dept assumes this refers possible public or secret trial Yugoslavs whose statements are given in Ministry Interior’s memo and not to any American personnel. In view, however, final paragraph urtel 940, please advise context Tito’s remarks (urtel 865 Aug 31) and whether any further developments in regard trial.
Needless to state, should there be any move to seek to take any American members Embassy or Zagreb Consulate into custody or to try such person, you should in no circumstances accede to such suggestion or request.
For your personal information, Dept considers allegations as superficial, unsustained, and in main gratuitous. But in view apparent Yugos objective to restrict activity and discredit personnel Embassy, matter raises important question of effective functioning our missions in Soviet-dominated areas. Consequently, in determining its course, Dept desires fullest information and will appreciate receiving comments from each American still in Yugoslavia covering specific allegations concerning him.
[On October 18, 1946, Ambassador Patterson delivered to the Yugoslav Foreign Minister a note in which the United States Government condemned the use for slave labor of American citizens confined in Yugoslav concentration camps. For text of note, see Department of State Bulletin, October 27, 1946, page 761. Simultaneously with the release of the text of this note to the press on October 18, the Department also released the texts of the Embassy’s notes of July 26, August 10, and August 28 to the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry on this same subject as well as the Yugoslav replies thereto. See ibid., pages 762–764.]
- Not printed, but see footnote 76, p. 954.↩
- Not printed; it instructed Ambassador Patterson to acknowledge receipt of the letter from the Acting Chief of Tito’s Cabinet and authorized him to state that the United States Government had no knowledge of the existence of any basis for the charges made by the Yugoslavs (811.2360H/9–1846).↩