Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

222. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the Presidentʼs Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig)¹

Washington, October 13, 1970.

SUBJECT

• Military Cooperation with Yugoslavia

In his back-channel message to Mr. Kissinger, Ambassador Leon-hart asks whether the subject of military cooperation/contacts was discussed during the Presidentʼs visit, and if so whether the Nutter comments should be modified.² Leonhart will be seeing General Dolnicar in the next few days.

Unfortunately, I am not able to be helpful. Military cooperation/contacts was not discussed within my hearing in Yugoslavia, Henry has not mentioned hearing any discussion and I have not received the MemCons from Akalovski, the interpreter, (these are overdue, and I have tried unsuccessfully to reach him by phone in Berlin, to see when we will get them).

Three of the four general areas for cooperation/contacts outlined in Nutterʼs response seem relatively innocuous—billetting at US military schools, GI tourists visits, and ammunition supplies. The fourth area of contacts, involving reciprocal invitations from the services, is fairly extensive—up to chief of staff level and for as long as three weeks. This is probably the best way to accomplish Dolnicarʼs request for further military contacts on strategy, planning, etc., and Ribicic told the Ambassador on October 6 that in the wake of the Presidentʼs visit, bilateral cooperation can now proceed on an all-round basis, including military.

In short, I would be surprised if the Presidential conversations would have restricted the Nutter proposals, though it is just possible that they might have indicated that the Nutter proposals should be expanded even further.³

Telegrams returned at Tab A.⁴

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 733, Country Files—Europe, Yugoslavia, Vol. II Aug 70–Aug 71. Secret; Nodis. Sent for action.
2. Reference is to telegram 52 from Belgrade, October 12. Nutterʼs proposals were outlined in a memorandum of conversation with Yugoslav Assistant State Secretary of Defense Dolnicar, September 7. Copies of both telegram 52 from Belgrade and the backchannel message outlining Nutterʼs proposals are ibid.
3. In an unnumbered telegram to Leonhart, October 15, the White House responded: “Military cooperation/contacts were not discussed with Yugoslavs by the President or myself. State/Defense proposals contained in Warren Nutterʼs message thus have not—repeat not—been modified.” (Ibid.)
4. Attached but not printed. In addition to telegram 52 from Belgrade, Tab A also included telegram 2411 from Belgrade, September 30, reporting the Yugoslav desire for clarification of certain points of the Nutter presentation.