Memorandum from the US Political Adviser
From the US Army File on Ante Pavelic: This file contains the State Department's instructions that the US and British governments feel it necessary to bring the Italian authorities in on Pavelic's planned arrest in Rome. Most authorities agree that the Italian police at this time were notoriously unreliable, and the fact that they were to have a role in any action of a highly secretive nature - such as a covert arrest of a person protected by the Vatican - indicates that Allied authorities were seeking to shift the blame for Pavelic's eventual "escape."

 

UNITED STATES POLITICAL ADVISER
ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS

July 29, 1947

TOP SECRET

MEMORANDUM TO: ACTING SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER
         (Through Chief of Staff)

SUBJECT: ANTE PAVELIC

   The Department of State informs me that Ante Pavelic, Croat Ustasha wanted as a war criminal by the Yugoslav Government, is rumored to be residing at the present time in disguise within the Vatican. The Department has informed the British Embassy in Washington, in reply to its request for the views of the United States Government on whether the United States and United Kingdom military authorities should assist the Italian authorities in endeavoring to arrest him at a suitable opportunity outside Vatican territory, with a view to his surrender to the Yugoslavs, that the United States Government agrees that the United States military authorities should cooperate with the Italian authorities to the extent necessary and possible in this particular case. The Department has pointed out, however, that such cooperation is not to be considered as a precedent contravening the general position of the United States that the matter of alleged quislings outside Allied jurisdiction is the responsibility of the Italian authorities. In this connection I refer to my memorandum to you of July 28, entitled "Alleged Yugoslav Quislings at large in Italy."

 

Joseph N. Greene, Jr.
Acting U. S. Political Adviser

cc to D/COS
     G-5 Section
     BRIT POLAD
     JA Section
     G-2 SECTION

 

:: filing information ::
Title: Memorandum from the US Political Adviser
Source: US Army, declassified.
Date: July 29, 1947 Added: October 2002