811.001 Truman, H. S./10–2347: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Cannon) to the Secretary of State
2135. In long note dated October 16, Velebit has not replied to my letter (Embtel 2065, October 7). He expressed astonishment any relationship between attitude Yugoslav press and position government could be drawn; parroted Molotov regarding freedom of press and added “I suppose that you personally will be aware extent offensive attitude large section American press has reached—this section press is slandering FPRY, insulting prominent Yugoslav personalities and constantly inciting hostility towards our country. I should say that your steps in respect to mentioned examples will be more justified had Government US disavowed such an attitude of American press.” Full text being airmailed.1
Without illusions as to effectualness our protest we had felt that Yugoslav impudence in reprinting Truman article after our protest at Moscow was, because premeditated, much more offensive than original publication and could not therefore go unchallenged. Since we anticipated this sort of reply we did not and do not now recommend publicity. Moreover, we believe we should henceforth be selective in matters of protests in order to make our best cases most effective (Embtel 2077, October 82). Case in point is Trieste’s 132, October 16 to Department, I shall find occasion for discussing provocations like case, but I question whether formal protest here would be considered anything more than another occasion for countercharges and invective.
- The text of Velebit’s note of October 16 was transmitted to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 264, October 25, from Belgrade, not printed (811.001 Truman, H. S./10–2547).↩
- Not printed. In it, Ambassador Cannon set
forth the view that the reprinting in Borba
of the Soviet article personally attacking President Truman was an
intentional and carefully timed act which was related to the recent
establishment of the headquarters of the Communist Information
Bureau in Belgrade. Ambassador Cannon concluded with the following
consideration:
“Reprint of Gorbadov article though different in approach is a probing like aircraft incidents last summer and Trieste last month. We should make early policy decision on what counteraction we are prepared to take both on how and with what pressure our protests can be supported. We can hardly expect mere notes of protest to be effectual considering that in last two years we have about exhausted the lexicon of strong language.” (811.001 Truman, H. S./10–847)
↩