128. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Brubeck) to the President’s Administrative Assistant (Reardon)0
SUBJECT
- Military Sales to Yugoslavia
In response to your request by telephone today we are submitting additional information to you on the above subject.
Following the Belgrade Conference last September, and the uncertainties which beset United States policy toward Yugoslavia in its aftermath, there was a virtual suspension in the processing of military sales cases for Yugoslavia. The processing of certain cases was long delayed; other Yugoslav requests were rejected. On January 15 United States policy toward Yugoslavia was reviewed by the National Security Council. Policy decisions were made at that time regarding several facets of our policy including that pertaining to military sales. The pertinent paragraph of NSAM 1231 provided that:
“Continued military sales to Yugoslavia are approved to the extent they amount to no more than reasonable spare parts and supplies for existing equipment. It is not expected or desired that Yugoslav military personnel will receive training in the United States, and future Yugoslav applications for other new military purchases should be reviewed case by case.”
In the light of this policy decision there was a review of the backlog of Yugoslav military sales cases in the Department of Defense. Yugoslav requests which had not been previously refused were acted upon favorably. The principal Yugoslav requests which were rejected were sonar equipment, Bofors guns, and G-47 aircraft. The sonar equipment was denied for “security considerations”. The other two items were no longer available from excess United States stocks.
Following an approach by the Yugoslav Ambassador to the Secretary of State inquiring about United States military sales policy toward Yugoslavia, a meeting was arranged in early April with Yugoslav officials in Washington. The Yugoslavs were informed that we anticipated no difficulty in meeting Yugoslav requests for spare parts and supplies for United States origin military equipment in Yugoslav hands. With regard [Page 272] to new items of equipment, the Yugoslavs were urged to investigate the possibility of procurement in Western Europe either from United States stocks there or from NATO countries. We promised in any case to cooperate with them in working out the most feasible arrangements. It was similarly suggested that training of Yugoslav military personnel be considered first in Yugoslavia, secondly in Western Europe, with the United States to be considered as the least desirable possibility. The Yugoslav representatives were pleased by what they considered to be a cooperative attitude on the part of United States officials although they were not completely reassured that their military equipment requirements could be met from the United States. The Yugoslavs indicated particular concern about the denial of the sonar equipment. They pointed out that on the basis of an offer they had received from the United States Navy they deposited a check in payment for the equipment and purchased helicopters in the United Kingdom on which the sonar was to be used. After the Belgrade Conference, the Navy offer was withdrawn for “security reasons” and the Yugoslavs were informed that the equipment was no longer releasable to them.
There is another pending case involving a request of the United Kingdom to release to Yugoslavia the Thunderbird rocket. The United States has refused concurrence to such release on grounds that the rocket contains classified United States technology. We have no indication that the Yugoslavs are aware of our blocking of this proposed sale by the United Kingdom but they will undoubtedly learn about it.
A meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 5, between the Departments of State and Defense to reconsider the sonar and Thunderbird cases. An effort will be made to evaluate the “security considerations” to determine the extent to which classified information is embodied in these equipments and if so whether release to Yugoslavia is nevertheless appropriate.
The Department of Defense has concurred in this memorandum.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 468.119/6–262. Secret. Drafted by Katz and cleared by Kitchen, Kohler, and the Department of Defense. Sent through Bundy.↩
- Document 118.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature. C.K. Johnson signed for Brubeck.↩