868.00/10–3150
The Secretary of State to Senator Tom Connolly 1
My Dear Senator Connally: As you know, it is our policy toward Yugoslavia to give Marshal Tito such support as we judge necessary for the protection of our strategic and political interests in that area. This policy is based upon the conclusions that (1) Tito’s defection from Kremlin control represents the first setback to Soviet imperialism and as such is an important political symbol; and (2) Tito controls the largest fighting force in Europe except the Soviet Union and that these forces constitute an important element in the defense of Western Europe against Soviet, aggression.
Unfortunately, Yugoslavia this past summer has suffered perhaps the worst drought in its history. Ordinarily Yugoslavia is a substantial exporter of agricultural products to other countries of Western Europe, in return for which Yugoslavia receives raw materials, consumer goods and industrial equipment. The situation as it now appears is that not only will Yugoslavia be unable to export agricultural products to Western Europe but, even more importantly, will be unable from its own production to feed its own population this coming winter.
The prospects are that if remedial measures are not begun immediately, Tito’s ability to control subversive elements in Yugoslavia will be seriously, if not fatally, undermined and the ability of the Yugoslav military forces to withstand an attack by the USSR or its satellites, or both, would be dangerously weakened.
General Marshall has informed me of his great concern, from a military point of view, over this situation and has urged us to find ways and means to extend necessary assistance to Tito without delay.2 We are obviously handicapped in taking prompt action to obtain necessary legislation while Congress is not in session, but the President has decided that we should prepare legislation for presentation to Congress when it reconvenes for the forthcoming short session. However, [Page 1492] even if Congress acts favorably upon this legislation with a minimum of delay, it would still be impossible, in view of transportation difficulties in Yugoslavia during the winter, to implement such a program as Congress may approve in time to prevent widespread suffering and possible disorders in some areas of Yugoslavia. Accordingly, it appears imperative that we explore every existing possibility of meeting this situation immediately pending possible specific Congressional action. This we are now doing. The difficulty is, as you of course know, that there is no general foreign aid legislation passed by Congress with Yugoslavia in mind.
There is a possibility, however, through the Mutual Defense Assistance Act, the Economic Cooperation Act, the Export-Import Bank and the Commodity Credit Corporation, or combinations thereof, of getting emergency assistance to Yugoslavia, and we are exploring these expedients energetically.
Incidentally, you may be interested to know that, from what the Department has learned of their reactions, those Members of Congress who have visited Yugoslavia this summer appear to favor a program of aid and assistance to Yugoslavia to overcome the acute situation brought about by the drought.
No final determination has yet been made on the amount necessary to accomplish our purpose. Discussions with Yugoslav representatives are now in process. It is for these reasons, and because of the statements in the first paragraph, that this communication has been classified “secret”.
As soon as we believe we have found any means, in existing authorizations, to begin a relief program for Yugoslavia you will, of course, be informed. I thought that meanwhile you would wish to be informed of the problem and the direction of our efforts to find a solution. I would appreciate any suggestions you may wish to make.
Sincerely yours,
- Tom Connally, Democratic Senator from Texas, was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Identical letters were addressed on October 31 to Millard E. Tydings, Democratic Senator from Maryland, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee; to John Kee, Democratic Congressman from West Virginia and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and to Charles A. Eaton, Republican Congressman from New Jersey and ranking minority member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. On November 3 an identical letter was addressed to Alexander Wiley, Republican Senator from Wisconsin and leader of the minority party on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.↩
- Secretary of Defense Marshall expressed his concern over the situation in Yugoslavia as early as October 5 during a conversation with Secretary Acheson, Secretary of the Treasury Snyder, Ambassador Harriman, ECA Administrator Foster, and others (memorandum of conversation by Nitze, October 5: 868.03/10–550).↩