IO Files1
Memorandum of Conversation
US/A/AC.53/2
Subject: Yugoslav Item and Possible Use of Peace Observation Commission in the Balkans
| Participants: | Dr. Ales Bebler,2 Yugoslav Delegation |
| Dr. Sava Kosanovic,3 Yugoslav Delegation | |
| Mr. Benjamin Cohen,4 US Delegation | |
| Mr. Eric Stein,5 US Delegation | |
| Mr. Thomas Cory,6 US Delegation |
At lunch today the two Yugoslav officials gave the following information concerning the item their delegation has proposed for the agenda of the General Assembly:
They expect to lead off with a hard speech along the lines of their explanatory memorandum. Simultaneously, or shortly thereafter, they [Page 504] will submit a draft resolution which will be considerably more mild than the speech itself. The general purpose of the draft resolution, as the Yugoslavs see it, will be to create an atmosphere of “general solidarity” in the General Assembly in respect to the Cominform pressures against Yugoslavia. They promised to hand the US Delegation a copy of their draft resolution tomorrow.
According to the two Yugoslav officials, the draft resolution will express the serious concern of the General Assembly over the situation. It then will invite the Cominform countries to reduce their aggressive propaganda against Yugoslavia. (The Yugoslavs seemed to welcome the US suggestion that the language of this provision could well be based on General Assembly Resolution 110 (II), against war mongering). Another provision of the draft resolution will call for the creation of mixed frontier commissions to examine border incidents along the various Yugoslav satellite frontiers. (The two Yugoslav officials agreed that there is little likelihood of the Cominform countries accepting membership in these commissions, particularly if they are to operate also in satellite territory). Another provision of the draft resolution will, according to the Yugoslavs, call for an improvement in the status of the diplomatic missions maintained by Yugoslavia in the Cominform countries and vice versa.
The Yugoslavs seemed to view General Assembly consideration of their item as a short term operation. They said they had not considered the possibility of the Ad Hoc Committee setting up a fact-finding subcommittee to examine evidence adduced in connection with the Yugoslav item. They, however, agreed to discuss this suggestion in their delegation. The two Yugoslavs manifested a particular interest in having a large number of delegates speak in support of their item. They indicated that so far they had spoken only to the US, UK and France but that they plan also to speak at least with Uruguay, Egypt and India with a view to persuading these last three delegations also to take part in the committee discussions and give them support. They said that although the UK initially was opposed to Yugoslavia raising the item, nevertheless, it now appears that the UK is more interested but that the Yugoslav Delegation still would appreciate the US using its influence to the end of persuading the UK to take a fuller interest.
Within the Committee, the Yugoslavs agreed that it would be preferable if their own speech is followed by a few speeches of other smaller powers, with the UK, France and the US coming in later with major statements. The Yugoslavs would expect each of the five Soviet satellites to speak on the subject after which the Yugoslavs themselves would deliver a second major speech and then hope for a committee vote on their draft resolution.
The two Yugoslavs confirmed that they have a large amount of very good material on the violation of human rights in the satellite [Page 505] countries. They explained that there are now in Yugoslavia some 8,500 refugees from Cominform countries and that these refugees have prepared statements, copies of which now fill a large case in the premises of the Yugoslav Delegation. The Yugoslavs said they also have some material from their own intelligence sources on the degree and form of rearmament of the satellites in violation of their respective Peace Treaties. They agreed on the desirability of making some of this material, particularly on human rights, available to other delegations which normally possess little knowledge or data concerning the Balkans.
Dr. Bebler seemed surprised that the present order of items in the Ad Hoc Committee calls first for discussion of the UNSCOB report, then for the Yugoslav item and thirdly for the item on creation of a UN Commission to examine the possibility of free elections in Germany. They had assumed from a talk with Mr. Cordier several days ago that the order of the first three items would be reversed. Due to their desire for time to prepare their own item, they raised no objection to the UNSCOB item being considered first.
Mr. Cohen outlined current US views regarding future UN machinery for the Balkans. He explained that the United States would hope for the termination of the UNSCOB and its replacement by a small sub-committee of the Peace Observation Commission. He added that we see some advantages in establishing the POC sub-committee under the Yugoslav item rather than under the UNSCOB item. Mr. Cohen explained that perhaps the sub-committee could be established to sit in New York and remain on call for use in either Greece or Yugoslavia at the request of either or both of those governments.
The two Yugoslavs made no substantive comment concerning the use of the POC but undertook to consult within their delegation and to inform the US of any instructions they receive. Their general attitude seemed to indicate a decided preference for the establishment of the POC sub-committee for the Balkans under the Greek item rather than the Yugoslav item. The representatives of the two delegations agreed to meet again as soon as they receive further instructions from their respective governments.
- Short title for the Master Files of the Reference and Documents Section of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State.↩
- Bebler was Permanent Representative of Yugoslavia to the United Nations and also at this time a member of the Yugoslav Delegation to the General Assembly.↩
- Kosanović was Minister of State and a member of the Yugoslav Delegation.↩
- Benjamin V. Cohen was a member of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly.↩
- Stein was a Department of State specialist in international security affairs and a member of the advisory staff of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly.↩
- Thomas J. Cory was an attach at the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) and a member of the Delegation’s advisory staff.↩