124.60H3/1–1347

The American Embassy in Yugoslavia to the Yugoslav Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1

No. 13

The American Embassy presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and upon instructions from its Government, has the honor to state the following:

The United States Government has carefully examined the Yugoslav Government’s charges of “unfriendly” activities on the part of various American personnel of the Embassy at Belgrade, and after a full investigation of the allegations made, it finds that the attitude imputed to Embassy officers is entirely unfounded. The Embassy has not engaged in subversive activities, and has never offered any support or assistance from any United States sources to opponents of the Yugoslav Government. The United States Government accordingly must protest vigorously against the Yugoslav Government making such charges against representatives of a friendly government.

Although rejecting the above charges, the United States Government is willing, as a gesture of good faith, to accede to the Yugoslav Government’s oral request for withdrawal of those members of the Embassy staff allegedly involved, and is therefore taking steps to remove them from Yugoslavia at the earliest possible moment.

The Embassy avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the assurances of its high consideration.

  1. This note was delivered in pursuance of instructions contained in telegram 14, January 7 to Belgrade, not printed (124.60H3/1–747). The source text was transmitted to the Department as enclosure No. 3 to despatch 592, January 13 from Belgrade, not printed.