740.00119 Control(Italy)/9–847: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Belgrade
604. You shd immediately present energetic protest to FonOff concerning the following unwarranted actions of detention and instances of maltreatment of Allied mil personnel by Yugo auth:
On 20 Aug 1947 SACMED reported that five riflemen of A Company, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who were seized on 16 June in the area of Duino in Zone B and were returned to Zone A on 19 July, suffered serious maltreatment while detained by the Yugos in that they were detained without justifiable reason from 16 June to 19 July; that they were confined to a room lacking sanitary toilet facilities; that no or insufficient exercise periods necessary for the maintenance of good health were permitted; and that the food was inadequate and inedible. Upon their release by the Yugos, all five soldiers were hospitalized with gastroenteritis and one also with typhoid fever attributable to the bad food and water given them during confinement. SACMED also referenced an incident occurring on 1 March in which a Brit officer was disarmed, undressed and searched.
SACMED further reported that a US Army officer and a US Army enlisted technician were forcibly seized while fishing on the Isonzo [Page 92] River near Plezzo on 9 Aug. It has not been established whether the seizure was effected in Zone A or B, and it probably will not be established until these personnel are released.
On 21 Aug, SACMED reported that two Brit seamen from HMS Ajax were apprehended in the Pola area on 1 Aug presumably after having entered Zone B on their own initiative, and that three Brit soldiers of the 2nd South Lancashire Regiment were arrested in the area of Albano Vescova while on patrol on 2 Aug. It is believed the Brit soldiers were in Zone A when arrested but is impossible to confirm this until the return of the patrol. The disappearance of the seamen and soldiers was reported to the Yugo Mil Mis on 5 Aug and 6 Aug, respectively, both without result.
On 4 Sept SACMED further reported the seizure of two Brit soldiers by the Yugos in the vicinity of Pola on 21 Aug.
You shd protest in strongest terms these unwarranted actions by Yugo auth and demand the immediate release of all US–UK mil personnel in Yugo custody.
The Dept intends to give the fullest publicity to this protest and to subsequent news of related developments.
Your Brit colleague will also receive instructions to present similar protest. However, you shd not await his action before making above urgent representations on the part of US.
Sent Belgrade as 604; repreated to Leghorn as 85.