033.1100 CO/4–1753
The Chargé in Yugoslavia (Wallner) to the Department of State1
No. 841
- Ref: Paragraph 328, Section E, Handbook on Congressional Foreign Travel; Embtel 1460 of April 16, 19532
- Subject:
- Codel: Visit of Staff Members, U.S. Senate Permanent Sub-Committee on Investigations
The following report is submitted with respect to the visit to Yugoslavia of Roy Cohn, Chief Counsel, and G. David Schine, Chief Consultant, staff members, U.S. Senate Permanent Sub-Committee on Investigations.
In advance of their arrival, the Embassy notified the Foreign Office of the proposed visit, emphasizing that it was concerned only with the official American establishment.
Mr. Cohn and Mr. Schine arrived from Munich by air at the Belgrade/Zemun airport at 1645 on April 14, 1953. They were met by Bruce Buttles, First Secretary/Public Affairs Officer, and William L. Frost, Third Secretary/Vice Consul. Because of local conditions, they were offered quarters in the official residence, which since the departure of Ambassador Allen and his family has been occupied on a caretaker basis by Mr. and Mrs. Frost. A briefing on the political situation in Yugoslavia and the work of the U.S. Information Service in this country was provided at the residence during the evening of April 14 by the Chief of the Political Section (Mr. Turner Cameron), the Public Affairs Officer (Mr. Bruce Buttles), and myself.
On April 15 both Mr. Cohn and Mr. Schine made a survey of USIS Facilities, with special emphasis on the library activity. On their own initiative they also visited the British Embassy Reading Room, and in the late afternoon were given a brief familiarization trip through one of the farming and agricultural village areas near Belgrade. That evening they met the Chief of the MSA Mission (Mr. James Killen), the Military Assistance Attaché (Brig. Gen. John Harmony), and other staff members at my residence. Afterwards they dined informally with members of the Public Affairs Staff.
The visitors were accompanied to the airport on April 16 by Mr. Buttles and Mr. Frost. They departed at 0810 by air to Athens, and Embassy Athens was immediately notified by telephone to that effect.3
[Page 1447]Except for the press, Mr. Cohn and Mr. Schine confined their contacts to Americans while in Belgrade, and requested no classified official material. An informal press conference which they held at the airport on arrival resulted in the publication of a factual account in the local press of comments concerning the nature of their visit, and of a humorous cartoon. No other notice has come to the Embassy’s attention.
Before leaving Yugoslavia, Mr. Schine requested the Embassy to compile information concerning the work and extent of the Yugoslav information services. This material will be forwarded separately to the Department for transmission to the Committee staff.