DISCUSSION OF SERBIAN POSITION IN EVENT OF ARMED YUGOSLAV-USSR CONFLICT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000300460001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 19, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 1, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/07/19: CIA-RDP83-00423R000300460001-7
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C try: Yugoslavia
Discussion of Serbian Position in event of
Armed Yugoslav-USSR Conflict
Place Acquired by Source.
Date Acquired by Source :
Date of Information 1920 - March 1953
Source Description:
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report.
aEltiRti TO CIA
tIBIARY 50X1
1. While I believe that Tito would be one hundred per cent reliable in Western
terms should there be an armed conflict between Yugoslavia and the USSR,
past and present indications lead me to believe that there is grave doubt as
to whether the mass of the Serbian population would support any such action.
2. When the "White" Army under Denikin approached Nikola Pasic and the Yugoslav
government for support, Pasic replied that no Serbian peasant could be sent
to fight against Russia. Pasic was an anti-communist of Serbian peasant
stock.
3. In the war between Greece and Turkey, Pasic was asked to station Yugoslav
troops in Salonika as a deterrent to Turkish aggression. Pasic replied that
Kernel was backed by Russia and that no Serbian would fight against the
interests of Russia.
4. Discussions with Serbian peasants and members of the Serbian Orthodox Church
over the past 30 years have more than borne out the reverence of Russia held
by Serbs, even those who are violently anti-communist.
5. During IN II, the fact that Tito openly espoused the Soviet cause gained him
numerous followers, who were not necessarily pro-communist but who were pro-
Russian. Of course, many refugees from Croatia joined Tito because he was
geographically closer to them than were groups under Mihailovic. Tito,
though a Croatian Catholic by birth, was thus supported by masses of Serbians.
6. Tito's quarrel with the USSR has certainly lost him followers, even among
Serbian non-communists. His release of Stepinac has even further revolted the
Serbs, who blame Stepinac and Rome for the evils that beset them during
WW,II.
7. Another point that still rankles in the hearts of many Serbians is the Allied
bombing of Belgrade during WW II. Unfortunately, the bombing took place on
an Orthodox Holy Day. Few firm Serbian Orthodox Church members have forgotten
this fact. To them it appears that all of their troubles have been generated
in the West.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/07/19: CIA-RDP83-00423R000300460001-7