741.60H/11–1147: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Cannon) to the Secretary of State
2208. For some time I have observed a shift in British policy here clearly showing reversion to “soft phase” toward Tito regime such as has recurred at intervals since 1943. It is probably grounded in persistence of idea that there is possibility of an independent British Yugoslav policy separate from British Soviet or other British policies. This misapprehension that Tito is free agent may now be supplemented by doctrine setting up Britain as leader of democratic socialist countries with noble task of bridging widening east-west gulf.
Recent phase may date from Noel-Baker visits1 and Maclean talks2 and shows consistent line thru the interrupted negotiations for an air agreement, the gratuitous offering of shipping and claims agreement [Page 850] (Embtel 888, August 63) to the major British-Yugoslav economic negotiations still underway, the press exploitation of British delegates to Youth Railway [Rally?] and compromises of Generals Steele and Churchill in Carinthia which incidentally were commended by Foreign Office. Visits of Red Dean of Canterbury4 and Zilliacus MP group5 while fortuitous have strengthened this trend. If this theory is sound it may in part explain new attitude on Trieste (Embtel 2199, November 86).
I wonder whether this long series is only local manifestation of deeper problem indicating general fatigue and frustration in carrying on in this part of Europe in view of serious economic situation at home and Bevin’s7 troubles with elements in his own party, or even whether it may indicate wistful regret that something like Eden-Molotov agreement on areas for “taking the lead” was not carried thru.
Yugoslav Government ever watchful for signs like this will draw every advantage from circumstances such as Britain’s urgent need of trade as shown in present negotiations at London in which connection British Ambassador told me “we simply must have food from Yugoslavia”. Local reaction is already evident and there is marked falling off in anti-British propaganda in Yugoslav press.
This means that we must henceforth take into account possibility that Yugoslav Government may now consider that British are no longer an important element as regards either Greece or Trieste and probable Yugoslav Government’s confidence that it can work out something as far as British are concerned as regards Carinthia when time comes to take up that problem.
That would mean that it is today only US which stands in Yugoslav Government’s way in achievement its program. Of course we can still count on general British support and perhaps full cooperation at moments of crisis such as perfectly splendid British action in mid-September on Trieste and I must admit British Embassy always most helpful to us here. But I do feel that our basic policy must in the future be shaped on assumption we must carry the burden and at times we may have to go it alone.
Sent Department 2208, repeated London 56 and Moscow 72.
- Philip Noel-Baker, British Secretary of State for Air, visited Yugoslavia in June. Despatch 1020, June 25, from Belgrade, not printed, reported that Noel-Baker had been received with a considerable outward show of friendliness and cordiality by Marshal Tito and other high Yugoslav officials (741.60H/6–2547).↩
- Maj. Gen. Fitzroy Maclean visited Yugoslavia twice during the summer of 1947 as head of a special British mission concerned with resolving British-Yugoslav differences over the treatment of Yugoslav displaced persons and alleged war criminals in British custody. His discussions with Yugoslav officials led to the conclusion of a British-Yugoslav agreement on September 8. The agreement was denounced by the Yugoslav Government in December 1947.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Dr. Hewlett Johnson, Dean of Canterbury.↩
- Konni Zilliacus, British Labor Party Member of Parliament, joined seven other Labor Members of Parliament in visits to several Eastern European countries during the autumn of 1947.↩
- Ante, p. 123. For additional documentation regarding the efforts of the United States to assist in the establishment of the Free Territory of Trieste, see pp. 51 ff.↩
- Ernest Bevin, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩