668.81/5–850: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Allen) to the Secretary of State
607. Dept’s 356, May 5, 6 p. m.1 I informed Deputy Foreign Minister Prica today that my government welcomed contemplated exchange Ministers between Yugoslavia and Greece and earnestly hoped that improved relations would result in solution of question of Greek children. I said no single question concerning Yugoslavia created as much misunderstanding in American public opinion as this one, and referred to Marshal Tito’s assurances to me on subject. I said Yugoslav authorities had been anxious to see progressive Plastiras Government formed and were undoubtedly equally anxious for it to remain in power but that Greek Prime Minister was under severe attacks and would be threatened if real progress re children were not made in near future. I said my government was not referring to children of Slavic race living in Yugoslavia with parents or relatives but that we were concerned about all children of Greek race whose parents and families were not in Yugoslavia.
During long but friendly conversation I added that Yugoslav willingness to return children whose parents specifically asked for them was not good enough. I referred particularly to 1,100 or more Greek children in orphanages in Yugoslavia whose parents are unknown, and to pretension of some Yugoslavs that these orphans were being cared for better where they were than they would be in Greek orphanages. I emphasized that this was entirely beside the point and that all Greek orphans should be sent back to Greece immediately and that American public would never understand any other solution.
Prica agreed that Plastiras was under pressure and that Yugoslavs would be glad to help strengthen his position. He noted with interest that US was not concerned with Slavic children. He readily concurred that Americans and others would not understand Yugoslav refusal to return children whose parents were unknown [Page 1415] and strongly implied that he personally thought they should be returned. He said Dr. Milosovic (Embassy’s 595, May 62) would discuss question in Geneva this week and that Plastiras would undoubtedly take it up with Yugoslav Chargé in Athens tomorrow.3
I said I was disposed to leave written memorandum with him on subject, to emphasize seriousness. He thought it might be preferable to wait two weeks and consider whether we wished make more formal representations in light of developments meanwhile. I am confident he is anxious to do what he can on this question and accepted his suggestion.
I have informed British Chargé of foregoing. He has received no instructions from London.
Sent Department 607, repeated Athens 46.
- Supra.↩
- Not printed. It reported, inter alia, that Dr. Olga Milošević, the Secretary General of the Yugoslav Red Cross, had departed for Geneva to attend a meeting of the International Red Cross to consider the question of the Greek children. No dramatic success was likely to be achieved, but it was evident that the Yugoslav Government was deeply concerned by the adverse world public opinion on the matter (881.411/5–650).↩
- Telegram 1067, May 10, from Athens, not printed, reported that the Embassy had been informed by the Greek Foreign Ministry that Yugoslav Chargé Serif Sehović had called on Prime Minister Plastiras the previous day formally to propose the exchange of ministers between Greece and Yugoslavia. There was also a discussion of the steps to be taken in connection with the return of the Greek children and the resumption of rail and other communications between the two countries (668.81/5–1050). Ten days later Yugoslavia requested Greek agreement to the naming of Sehović as Minister to Greece, and Greece proposed Dimitrios Pappas, Director of the Ecclesiatical Section of the Greek Foreign Ministry, to be Minister to Yugoslavia.↩