768.5 MAP/12–450
The Department of State to the French Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
In an aide-mémoire dated December 41 and left at the Department of State by M. Ruffin2 on December 5, 1950, the French Embassy stated that the report of the Tripartite Committee on military aid for Yugoslavia raises the basic question as to whether the Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the United States are prepared to approach the Yugoslav Government with a view to proceeding, so far as possible, to practical steps. Believing that the Yugoslav request for military equipment from France presents an opportunity to sound out the attitude of the Yugoslav authorities and to effect a first lot of deliveries in a manner which from the political point of view would appear to take full account of the position of the Belgrade Government, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that it would be desirable for the three Governments to settle the questions which the experts found beyond their competence, notably the problem of financing, and would like to see tripartite discussions opened at Paris to that end as soon as may be possible. The Ministry wishes to know whether the Department of State agrees to this procedure.
With respect to the items of military equipment which the Yugoslav Government proposes to purchase in France, a list of which has been provided to the Department through its Embassy in Paris, the Department is agreeable that the principal discussions thereon should take place in Paris. Instructions have accordingly been despatched to the appropriate representatives in Paris of the United States Government to enable them to take part in such discussions. The Department will undertake to ensure that determination is made with as little delay its may be possible whether in the United States view the release of any or all of the military items by France to Yugoslavia would be [Page 1513] prejudicial to the interests of the general rearmament program or of the policies governing the program of assistance to Yugoslavia.
As regards the broad policies involved in the general problem of military aid to Yugoslavia, including the question as to whether and when the three Governments should make an approach to the Yugoslav Government in the premises, the Department believes that decisions can be taken only after further consideration of the report of the Tripartite Committee and a reconciliation of the views of the three Governments thereon. In consideration of the work already done here, and particularly of the machinery already placed in operation by the Tripartite Committee, the Department believes it would be preferable for discussions on the general program to remain centered in Washington and would accordingly appreciate being informed whether such an arrangement will be acceptable to the French Government.