860H.00/1408
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of
State (Welles)
[Washington,] August 5, 1942.
The Minister of Yugoslavia called to see me this afternoon at his
request. The Minister gave me a series of telegrams, which are attached
herewith, sent by General Mihajlović to the Prime Minister
[Page 807]
of Yugoslavia.13 The Minister said he
believed that these telegrams would be of interest to this Government
and even to the President. I said I would be very glad to transmit a
copy of these messages to the President for his information.
The Minister spoke briefly with regard to the difficulties which he was
constantly encountering in the United States from Communist sympathizers
among the Slovene and Croatian elements in the United States. He called
my attention specifically to the fact that the Daily
Worker14 in New York a few days ago had published an
article asserting that the Yugoslav free radio station (which the
Minister stated did not exist) had proclaimed that the Yugoslavs desired
to identify themselves with the Soviet Union and that General Mihajlović
was a Fascist and a traitor. The Minister said this article had
immediately been republished in the Communist inclined portions of the
Croatian press in the United States. The Minister stated that these
facts were all the more remarkable inasmuch as up to ten days ago the
Daily Worker had almost daily published a
photograph of General Mihajlovic under headlines proclaiming him as the
great leader of the southern Slav forces of resistance against Hitler.
The Minister said the telegrams he had handed me would give further
indications of the campaign being conducted within Serbia by Communist
elements against General Mihajlović.
[Annex]
The President of the Yugoslav
Government:
Last fall I received the communication from the British Government
that we have to fight for Yugoslavia and not to allow a Communist
uprising for Soviet Russia. I repeat the Communists are hated by the
people on account of the terror placed on their people. The people
are against them and soon we will see their end. Serbia, Sandjak and
Eastern Bosnia have been liberated from them and now in Montenegro
there is a general uprising against them. I repeat the people
themselves have taken care to liquidate the Communists and now
Montenegro does the same. Last fall Captain Hudson15 has prevented the
sending of supplies which brought us to a very difficult crisis and
I am afraid that this will be repeated on account of the
incomprehension of my situation. I cannot give a serious blow to the
enemy unless I receive arms and munitions. You may be sure that all
the people here stand with me and the Yugoslav Army.
[Page 808]
The President of the Yugoslav
Government:
The people in Montenegro and Sandjak in their general uprising
against the Communists have entirely cleaned two regions. The people
have been provoked by the incredible terror of the Communists who
have killed thousands of Nationalists. I have received photographs
and documents of their atrocities. I am proceeding now to the
reorganization of those regions.
Serbia has been completely organized. All the commanders are at their
respective posts. Have developed radio network for communication.
From the region of Leskovac and Vranje our organizations are pushing
towards South Serbia where young recruits are fleeing the Bulgarian
army and joining my detachments.
In Bosnia, mountain of Majovica, my detachments have beaten the
ustashis and captured four guns. The ustashis have fled towards
Serbia but they have been supported by the Germans. In the region of
Bosnia the action of chetniks is going on. Hercegovina is now,
unfortunately, subjected to a Communistic terror. It seems that all
our provinces have to go through this terror which brings the revolt
and finally the liberation. You may be sure that we will be united
for the final hour but we need arms and munition.
[Other telegrams, not printed, related to matters other than
Communist activities.]
