860H.01/9–2444: Telegram
The United States Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Kirk), to the Secretary of State
[Received September 24—9:45 a.m.]
522. Reference my 512, September 23, midnight.62 Definite information has now been received that Tito has not yet returned to Vis but that order mentioned in telegram under reference was issued at Vis yesterday over his signature. Order is reported to state that members of British and American military missions accredited to Tito’s HQ will not be permitted to circulate beyond Corps HQ. This in effect means that British or American members of these missions will not be allowed to advance freely into interior of Yugoslavia as liberated by Partisans and general interpretation here is that order was issued in order to avoid any British or American witnesses to civil war in Yugoslavia.63
- Not printed.↩
- American military authorities took strong exception to Tito’s order and retaliated by cancelling supply drops and flights evacuating Partisan wounded. The Department was informed of these measures in a letter written by Brig. Gen. William J. Donovan, Director of the Office of Strategic Services, to the Secretary of State on September 24, 1944. General Donovan enclosed with his letter a copy of an OSS report of September 20, 1944, originating from Bari which conjectured: “Probably the motive behind Tito’s move is his desire to curtail and control American and British military representation in the country now that he believes the civil war is all but in the bag and now that British and American supplies are no longer needed.” (860H.01/9–2444)↩