611.60H31/3–2949: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Yugoslavia
163. Re Embtel 332 Mar 29,1 it is neither possible nor desirable to indicate to Yugo Gov any list of goods which it will or will not be possible for them to acquire in US. As Emb aware decisions under NSC 18/2 will be made on individual basis and only items completely excluded at present are those related aviation. General statement in penultimate sentence Embtel is endorsed. Emb may indicate we are prepared consider explicit requests as they are made, although in some instances considerable time is necessary for making decisions and therefore specific items shld be mentioned earliest possible. Blooming mill question still under active consideration as is question Banbury mixers for tire plant. Under present circumstances aviation gasoline cannot be furnished. Filippovic has mentioned mining machinery in general terms,2 but nothing can be done about such machinery until specific requests outlined.
Dept is of opinion Emb shld reemphasize to Yugo Gov importance early specific and detailed advice on Gov to Gov basis of items desired from US. Shld also point out there will be instances in which licenses will be denied but that in opinion US Gov substantial trade is possible and desirable and there shld be no embarrassment or reluctance on [Page 880] part Yugo Gov in discussing confidentially its specific requirements for goods from US, which will be reviewed carefully and sympathetically in light prevailing circumstances. In this connection, you might mention to Yugos that we have recently approved licenses for 10 oil well drilling rigs, 5 mobile machine shops, and nearly $7 million of other items.
- Not printed; it reported on a long conversation that morning between Yugoslav Vice Minister for Foreign Trade Stanislav Kopčok and officers of the Embassy. Kopčok cautiously but unmistakably indicated earnest Yugoslav desire for continued and permanent expansion of trade with the U.S., but he also voiced Yugoslav concern over the treatment accorded Yugoslav export license applications (660H.119/3–2949).↩
- Milenko Filipović, newly appointed Minister-Economic Counselor of the Yugoslav Embassy in Washington, held a conversation with officers of the Department of State on March 22 regarding a Yugoslav desire to purchase mining machinery in the U.S. provided a loan for this purpose could be obtained from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Bernard Connelly’s memorandum of this conversation is not printed (860H.51/3–2249).↩