740.00119 Control (Italy)/9–245: Telegram
Mr. Alexander C. Kirk, Political Adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, to the Secretary of State
[Received September 2—8:45 p.m.]
3501. Broad85 has shown us telegram from Foreign Office to Halifax with regard to Yugoslav note July 17 (reference our 3196, August 4, 9 p.m.86) which described it as loosely argued and incoherent document [Page 1195] the main purpose of which is to request that method of administration through system of committees should be adopted uniformly throughout Allied Military Government areas of Venezia Giulia.
Foreign Office proposes that reply should be made to Yugoslavia stating that Supreme Allied Commission’s [Commander’s?] decision to install pref ectorial system of civil administration in preference to system of administration through committees had full approval of British Government and that there is no foundation for view that pref ectorial system is by definition undemocratic for [or?] that committee system has monopoly on democratic principles. Reply of Foreign Office would be substantially as follows: Yugoslav Government should not need assurances that the military governor will exercise his authority with full respect for the rights of the people and for democratic principles. Slovene inhabitants will of course have the same rights and share in administration as the Italians, however, the special characteristics of the area as one for which Allied Military authorities must act as trustee until final front is laid down by international agreement will be fully recognized. Communal and municipal elections in area at earliest opportunity are proposed by Supreme Allied Commission [Commander?]. Such Yugoslav committees as are in his opinion working satisfactorily are being retained by Supreme Allied Commission [Commander?] in an advisory capacity in accordance with article III of Belgrade agreement.
British consider their obligations under June 9 agreement fully carried out by above policy, and that they cannot accept Yugoslav Government’s suggestion that Yugoslav system of committees should be applied to this area. It is further considered that the degree of security and stability required for line of communication can best be attained by using prefectorial system and could not be attained by committee system.
Inasmuch as Yugoslav Government considers it right to submit views to British Government regarding nature and administration of Allied Military Government in Venezia Giulia, British Government reserves right to question Yugoslav nature and conduct of administration in Yugoslav zone. British Government inquires whether Yugoslav Government agrees to attachment of small liaison mission to Yugoslav administrative headquarters to act as observers, similar to attachment of Yugoslav mission to XIII Corps. Foreign Office suggests some of the following points might also be included in reply if it is decided such reply should have specially sharp character:
- a.
- Characterized as intolerable is the implied suggestion that Allied Military Government is imposing Fascist administrators and administration on the area.
- b.
- Objection is taken to reference in Yugoslav note to “Yugoslav nationality” of inhabitants of area. Inhabitants are Slovenes and [Page 1196] Italians and are Italian nationals until otherwise decided at peace conference.
- c.
- The original intention of British Government to reject committee system by conduct of Yugoslav press and radio since signing of June 9 agreement is confirmed. It has been made clear by this propaganda campaign that the argument for maintenance of national liberation committees, Peoples Courts, and Peoples Militia has primary and narrow political significance as part of campaign of agitation for cession of area to Yugoslavia. It has also been made clear by this propaganda campaign that if these organs had been maintained, they would have been used to further political aims of Yugoslav Government.
Foreign Office states that Prime Minister’s reply to letter of July 25 signed by Tito and Šubašić87 might include some hope for maintenance of friendly relations or for abandonment of this question as a subject of dispute, but would simply refer to official reply to Yugoslav note.
- Philip Broad, member of the staff of the British Minister Resident at Allied Force Headquarters at Bari.↩
- Not printed. For text of note vervbale No. 1938 of July 17, addressed by the Yugoslav Minister for Foreign Affairs to Embassies of Great Britain and the United States in Belgrade, see Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, p. 1215.↩
- Ivan Šubašić, Yugoslav Minister for Foreign Affairs; for text of letter of July 25, see Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, p. 1214.↩