860H.01/8–1644: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Murphy), to the Secretary of State
[Received 5 p.m.]
142. Reference my 124, August 14, 10 a.m.36 Tito has now departed from Caserta and is spending day in Bari. He planned to depart from Bari returning to Vis on 16 or 17 accompanied by Dr. Subasich. Tito while here in addition to military staff discussions reported in my 124 had three conversations with British Prime Minister and British political staff. Mr. Churchill expressed to me his satisfaction with way things have gone. Although conversations covered fairly wide range, results apparently boiled down to an agreement which Tito and Subasich agreed to reduce to writing after their arrival on Vis concerning future organization of Yugo[slav] Navy. Latter will fly Royal Yugo flag but personnel will be allowed to wear either Royal Yugo or Tito insignia according to their individual preferences and they will function under operational command of Allied CinC Mediterranean.
According to British Tito is conscious that his present value to Allied cause is not as great or as necessary as it was in early 1944 or during 1943.
I believe British are satisfied they have impressed Tito with strength of their position in Mediterranean and are encouraged to believe they will obtain in the future understanding cooperation from Tito.
While I did not participate in Brit-Yugo military and political discussions I did have several informal conversations with him as well as with his Chief of Staff Major General Zukovich.37 Tito spoke to me at great length regarding important social possibilities of his movement for future of Yugoslavia and particularly its appeal to Yugo youth. He claimed it symbolizes a growing protest against reaction and that it was designed and would succeed in welding together all patriotic elements in country.
[Page 1397]He was enthusiastic in his reference to United States and part Americans could play in reconstruction of Yugoslavia. In his opinion European War is rapidly drawing to a close and postwar problems assume ever growing urgency. I found him direct and able but I thought I detected in his conversation a certain lack of assurance regarding his eventual acceptance by majority of his fellow countrymen as the political leader of Yugoslavia. He spoke of democracy and the Four Freedoms. He welcomed members of American Mission now assigned to his headquarters. He gives every indication of a desire to cooperate.
- Not printed; it reported General Wilson’s satisfaction with the progress of his military conversations with Tito (860H.01/8–1444).↩
- Tito’s Chief of Staff was Lt. Gen. Arso Jovanovich. This reference is probably to Lt. Gen. Sreten (Crni) Zujovich, Tito’s Deputy Commander in Chief. Both men were present at the Caserta talks.↩