U.S. And Jugoslavia Have “Unwritten Alliance”

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26511, 28 August 1951, Page 7

U.S. And Jugoslavia Have “Unwritten Alliance”

(Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 26. “It is now peritiissible to speak of an unwritten alliance between the United States and Jugoslavia to defend European peace against possible Soviet aggressioh,” says M. S. Handler, a correspondent of the “New York Times,” in a dispatch from Jugoslavia.

Handler adds that the week-end talks between Marshal Tito and Mr Averell Harriman, President Trhtnah’s special representative, have Widened the area of understanding to this point.

Before leaving Jugoslavia for London, Mr Harriman said he had discussed the following points with Marshal Tito:—

(1) United States economic and military assistance programmes for Jugoslavia.

(2) Ways and means of preventing World War 111.

(3) The problem of Jugoslavia’s international balance of payments.

(4) Soviet policy towards the nonSoviet world. (5) The Kremlin’s objectives and tactics.

(6) Mr Stalin’s personality and leadership.

(7) The probable effect of a Soviet attack on general peace. (8) The Jugoslav Government's plan for expanding the country’s economy. Mr Harriman said, he did not comment on Marshal Tito s belief that a war against Jugoslavia could not be

localised, but added: “I did not dispute Marshal Tito’s position.”

In an earlier interview at Bled, Mr Harriman said that he and Marshal Tito had agreed that one of the chief dangers of war came from a possible miscalculation by the Kremlin on the Western countries’ readiness to meet aggression. “We agreed that the surest way to prevent war was the efforts of our two countries to strengthen oUr military forces,” he said. He had been struck by the similarity of his own and Marshal Tito's analyses of Soviet objectives and tactics. "I was impressed by Marshal Tito’s realistic understanding of the problems facing Jugoslavia, his determination and his confidence, Mr Harriman said. “I was impressed to hear of his plans for expanding the Jugoslav economy, and by his determination to build the military strength of Jugoslavia to prevent aggression.