German-Jugoslav Relations Broken

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 11

German-Jugoslav Relations Broken

(Rec. 10 p.m.) BONN, October 19 West Germany today broke off diplomatic relations with Jugoslavia in retaliation for President Tito’s recognition of Communist East Germany.

The Bonn Government claims that it alone is entitled to speak for Germany and considers recognition of the Eastern regime as an unfriendly act.

The Jugoslav Ambassaoor in Bonn. Mr Dusan Kveder, on receiving the West German fivepage Note breaking off relations, protested “most strongly” to the West German Foreign Minister <Dr. Heinrich von Brentano). In London, a British Foreign Office spokesman expressed understanding of the West German Government’s decision to break off relations with Jugoslavia.

“In the light of these views, the British Government regards the Federal Government’s decisions as entirely understandable in the circumstances.’’ he said. He added: “The British Government has already made it clear to the Jugoslav Government that they regret Jugoslavia’s action, which they do not regard as a positive contribution to the achievement of German reunification.”

At the Jugoslav Embassy, Mr Kveder read out at a press conference the official answer he had given to Dr. von Brentano when he was informed of the break.

This said in part: “The Government and peoples of Jugoslavia condemn this step by the Federal Government, for which there is no justifiable reason, and protest most strongly against it. “I am firmly convinced that this step by the Federal Government will cause direct harm to the Federal Republic and to the general political situation in the world.

"It will be difficult for the Federal Government to convince the |German people and world public opinion that this self-willed action is a contribution to German reunification. World public opinion will see it rather as an attempt by the Federal Government to solve the German problem by senseless pressure, rather than through conciliation.”

Dr. von Brentano later told a press conference that Fiance had been asked to look after West German interests in Jugoslavia After reading out the text of the Note. Dr. von Brentano said that Jugoslavia had not observed the rules of the game. “They declared up to the last moment that they had no intention of taking this step." he declared. Belgrade had made no attempt to discuss its reasons for recognising East Germany with the West German Government. "We believe the Jugoslav action is in no way calculated to remove international tensions,” Dr von Brentano said.