860H.001 Peter II/8–2947: Airgram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State 1
A–389. Following is text of letter received by Legation’s Military Attaché under date of August 26 from ex-King Peter of Yugoslavia, now sojourning at St. Moritz:
“Events are unrolling so fast that surprises are not excluded.
“My confidants in the country and all eminent Yugoslavs in emigration, request me to proceed to an organized and immediate action, with the aim of preparing for coming events.
“While on one side Moscow and the Komintern with their satellites are precipitately preparing and energetically realizing their objectives, while we on the other hand allow imminent events to surprise us and find us unprepared.
“I consider that Your Government ought to let me know its point of view on many questions (concrete and principal), in order for me to conform my actions.
“This was the principal reason for which I have, on several occasions, expressed my desire to render possible my visit to the United States of America.
“The present situation is such that I feel obliged to respond to the expressed wishes of my people and to proceed to take steps in order to win a true liberty for my people and to do my best to institute a real democratic regime in my country.
“I therefore would be grateful if you would please ask for instructions from Your Government on the following questions:
- “1.—May I count on an authorization to render myself to the U.S.A. and to spend there only a few weeks?
- “2.—In the case that the U.S. Government, for whatever reason, does not desire my coming to the U.S.A., is it willing to accept my representative, who would present the situation and receive the necessary suggestions from your Government?
- “3.—May I expect that the Government of the U.S.A. would designate its representative, with whom I could treat all questions and by whom the points of view of your Government?
“It is necessary to receive a definite and prompt answer to this letter, as the situation is such, that I will be forced to take certain definite steps before this winter.
“My wish is that my activities be in conformity and in the same spirit with the policy of the Government of the United States of America.
“My people, in their plea for aid, turn their look toward Washington and their King believes that Washington will understand and help them regain their liberty.
Yours very sincerely,
Peter II R”
Pending expression of Department’s views with respect to points raised therein, Legation proposes to make no reply to foregoing letter beyond oral acknowledgment already made by Military Attaché, who is reporting substance of above also to War Department.
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A file notation in an unidentified handwriting reads “no reply necessary”.
A previous request by former King Peter for a visa to the United States had earlier been rejected by the Department. Arthur Bliss Lane, former Ambassador in Yugoslavia and more recently in Poland, called on Secretary Marshall and Under Secretary Acheson on May 9 to urge that King Peter be granted a visa. According to the memorandum of the conversation, not printed, Under Secretary Acheson explained the Department’s position as follows:
“Mr. Acheson said that he was responsible for the refusal which was based on the fact that such a visit would be exploited by the communist press not only in Russia but in France, Italy and elsewhere to accuse us of backing royalty and reactionary forces. We had to consider this in relation to the situation in Greece, Turkey and other places where propaganda of this kind was being directed at us.” (860H.001 Peter II/5–947)
Ambassador Lane took up the matter with Assistant Secretary of State Armour on several occasions in July and August. On September 10, Assistant Secretary Armour wrote to Lane to explain that the Department had been prepared to give favorable consideration to the proposed visit on the understanding that it would be in connection with personal business. Referring to the airgram printed here, Armour then added the following:
“I think you will admit that this throws quite a different light on the proposed visit. It certainly would seem to indicate that King Peter’s primary interest in coming to this country is political. Consequently, in view of the complications that might ensue, we do not believe it advisable to encourage his coming. In fact, we can’t see as things are to-day that anything would be gained by his visiting this country.” (860H.001 Peter II/9–1047)
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