Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

611.68/10–2854

No. 709
Memorandum by the Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Cutler) to the Secretary of State¹

secret

Washington, October 28, 1954.

Admiral Fechteler had a conference with the President this morning, on more or less general matters.

He expressed a very warm regard for Ambassadress Luce’s service and qualifications. He agrees with her view that although we have now happily settled the Trieste matter, the process of bringing the Yugoslavs and Italians closer together will take a good deal of time and patience. He expressed the view that probably the best way to bring about such a rapprochement was through meetings at lower levels, rather than forcing the issue at a high level. I understand that this view, with which the President seemed to agree, is shared in the State Department.²

The President went on to say that, from the political point of view, he thought it was desirable to increase gradually the feeling of mutual friendliness between NATO military personnel and Yugoslav military personnel. He was not passing on the question of whether at this time, or some future time, it would be desirable for Yugoslavia formally to join NATO. He was addressing himself to measures to foster friendly feeling between the Yugoslav and NATO military. For example, why should not NATO let Yugoslav military personnel see routine NATO equipment and routine NATO military formations (without going into the nuclear or strategic fields). He felt that by such acts of courtesy, where there was no embarrassment to the country in which the courtesy was shown, the desirable goal of keeping Yugoslavia friendly to us would be fostered.

He asked me to pass this view along to you. I am sending a copy to Admiral Fechteler, and to the Secretary of Defense.

Robert Cutler

1. In a handwritten note in the margin, William K. Scott of S/S indicated that no action was necessary on the memorandum, as Defense had already passed it to the JCS and to the U.S. element in the NATO Standing Group for guidance. This information, he noted, had been obtained from Colonel Anderson. A covering memorandum from Scott to the Secretary of State, dated Oct. 29, indicates that copies were sent to Hoover, Murphy, Bowie, and Merchant. A handwritten notation in the margin indicates that the Secretary of State saw this memorandum.
2. A handwritten notation in the margin here, presumably by Scott, reads, “Is it?”