Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT(Naval Aidel 159 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON January 23, 1951 T SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS YUGOSLAVIA Embassy London has informed us that the British representative on the NATO Council of Deputies has inquired whether the US Government has formulated its views on loosening export controls on items going to Yugoslavia. The French representative remarked that Britain and France were agreed that such action is desirable. The British representative also clarified the UK view on the timing of a possible attack on Yugoslavia by saying that British military authorities considered an attack on Yugoslavia unlikely until the completion of the 1951 satellite recruitment and train- ing program, i. e. before September 1951. He added that while Yugo- slavia had not yet sought arms from the West except through commer - cial channels, the Foreign Office believed the Yugoslavs were gradually "plucking up their courage" to do so and therefore the British anticipate a government-level request for arms. Meanwhile Ambassador Allen in Belgrade reports that the Foreign Minister has asked him to call today at his residence for the obvious purpose of discussing Yugoslav needs for military assistance. Ambassador Allen indicates that the British and French missions have not been approached and it is not clear how the Yugoslavs plan to conduct conversations. NEW GUINEA Prime Minister Menzies of Australia has sent a personal message to the Secretary outlining Australian views on the current controversy between Indonesia and the Netherlands regarding sovereignty over Dutch New Guinea. Menzies states that the Australians have been deeply exercised about the possibility of transfer of sovereignty from the Dutch to the Indo- nesians. He says that the Indonesians have no real connection with the inhabitants of New Guinea either from the point of race or culture, and the transfer would be no more than a conversion of one form of colonial- ism into another. Menzies states that New Guinea is vital to Australia, and that he has sometimes wondered whether Australia should not declare a form of Monroe Doctrine in relation to it, and adds that the DECLASSIFIED TOP E G E T E.O. 13526 Authority LP-SST 2016-008 #22 NARA so Date 7/16/2019