-

)/11t3• • 1,D•TI(11-1040

FEDERAL: B Ler NVIE:ST1PATION#461-94Serrs

NIA I011MI ONNIONTIIINMy SAN FRANCISCO

MOW

S S. OPPOMMIr POSOlves arms 111-4••ffi •

:COORDINATIM WITH

DECLASSIFIED AND RELEASED BY -

CE g TRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCYSOLIRCES. METHODS EXEMPTION3B2NAZI WAR CR IMESDISCLOSUREOAT 2003 2006 ..

. •

■

parr NAM AT

SAN FRANCISCO j 2 1954

001170112OWNININOW-1041011 WACO

VI to 5/31/5/1

WONT MACS WV

MUM A. coma= lpax taumacTa COP CAM

SINISA KOSUTIC INTERNAL STICURITT ■ MI

MOP= OF FACTS:

COMFIT) 4.71`IAL,

sirasA KOSDTIC continued as Consul at Tagoe/av Consulate General* San •Francisco, in April and 24ay 1954. At the begiming of April, he was inLos Angeles, California, working on an inheritance natter. He continuedhis interest in all phases of estate matters. KOSUTIC contacted tiy =COLAMEDIC of the Yugoslav M‘basay Staff, Washington, D.C., concerning theforeign policy of Yugoslavia as opposed to that of Italy, and in otherminor intelligence matters. IEC6ITTIC ts wife, MBA, received into the

ItSrallin meeting in late 1953. =sync maintained limited contact with' Serbs, especially with Reverend MIRICO VUISICII and (137.803 KOVACEITIC of the

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Loa Angeles.

-P-

DETAILS*The informon in this report was supplied by San Francisco Ta.,

San Francisco T-,2, San Francisco 1-3, San Francisco T-4, San Francisco 1-5,and San Francisco T-6, all of known reliability.

CONFIDVTIAL

•

,..--v*AMOY= IMOAMCST oc, Nor lour, MI THINE SPANNPONINANOINN IN CNANNt

• • I•

est.-InarsaztTr05:137ATIteg.) - This Is an FBI InvestigatIst1-Chicago (Info.)(Reg.) report and makes co remaimEndabon1-11ew York (Info.)(Reg.) for clearance or disapproval.1-Los Angeles (Info.)(110g.) -1-Washington Field (Info.)(Reg.)

I3-San Francisco (105451)OPERTY OF FBI—This confidential report and its contents are loaned to you by the FBI and are not to be

distributed outside of agency to which loaned.

SF 105-751

S/NISA KOSUTIC continued as Consul at the Yugoslav Consulate°mural, San Francisco, during April and Hay 1954. His residence remained290 Magellan Avenue, San Francisco. Although it was indicatel previouslythat he could expect a transfer homeand his superior Consul Oeneral RATO

\Vamp= was ordered back to Be/graie, no information is to a traneferi

TIC

was received, SF T-4 advised that KOSUTIC rep4rted to anunknown person, but believed possibly identical mithNIKOLINMIC of theYugoslav Meassy in Washington, D.C., concerning a meeting of an organisationlisted szeSKJ*(possibly representing Syndicate Comnunist of Yugoslavia), whichwas held in San Francisco on October 23, 1953. This meeting consisted oftvo parts: a reading and discussion of the letter from the Central Committeeof SU from its aecnnd plenary meeting or June 1953 and the second part, theadmission of M. (NUJLIA) KOSUTIC into the SU in accordance with establishedprocedures.

Under .the first part, KOEUTIC noted himeelf as saying that theletter from the Central Committee cane at this particular timebecause of the chanc!es which had occurred and atill were going on inYugoslavia in connection with the re-organisation of the Government andthe economy of the countryi °hafted which come as a result of the breakin relations with the USSR mh5ch inturn found many Cosmuidateunpreparedas to their further action. KOSUTIC stated that the break:with Hbecowdisorganised the Communietein Yugoslavia who became lees active becauseof the confUsion. Different enemiese in the Lmuntry allegedly tookadvantage of this state of affairs to *tweed in their own ideas whichworked to invalidate the advancements of the Yugoslav revolution withyth•?eclat that the ideas of these enemies were interjected into the Ingoalavsituation. KOSUTIC concluded his remarica by saying that it was necessaryto work harder to ovetcome.their ehortoominge..z,

Concerning the admission of HRS. 0-U2IC into the SKJ, it appearedthat the was proposed by Vice Consul 9 41 % 1 4'411 who stated that shehad asked to be accepted in the group and he ecomnended her because ofher faithfalhesso honesty, and willingness to work for the mparteand country.MRS. KOSUTIC stox.d that she mould do everything in her power both mentallyand physically.

NIKOLA HANDIC of the Itgoslav &bassi, Washington, D.C., hasin the past been described as the leader of the UDBaeamong the Yugoslavofficials in the United States, On Jane 5, 1953 he told KOSUTIO that

-2-* Tegoalav Intelligence SerTICS

- — - allreQ.""040110.

••

' 105451

MECO (Vice Consul MODRAG VITOHOVIC) could calm down now because thehigher ups had decided to transfer him home. oTroa(Rc had been requestinga transfer home to enable him to pursue his education) -NIKOLA MEDICfurther instructed SINISA KOSUTIC about the correct line to follow inthe question of the firm relations between Italy, the Vatican, andYugoslavia. NIKOLA MN= stated that the Vatican and Italy combinedits work against Yugoslavia and this would continue until there MU amajor change in Italian society. MARDIC did not foresee such a changein the immediate future and therefore considered the present condition'Would be of a lasting character ) therefore, it was Yugoslavia's problemto break down Italian politics while explaining that of Yugoslavia. HANDICstated *we must act in all directions* in every contact to break downItaly on the basis of its “peet9%history in war showing up Italy as thecountry 0. 1.01MMIC stated that Yugoslavia mast start its program out as*Our desire for peace and se -defense.* &ODIC suggested that a renewedstudy of tho speech of EDIAltp ithe high-ranking Yugoslav official,at the Paris Conference would be desirable,

On Jay 29, 1953 the same source advised that on July 29, 1953BRNDIC instructed KOSUTIC that he was to make note of an individual namedAMMOrttS„ an employee of the California Department of Social Velferein7SacriAinto, California. This person's father-in-law was born inKorcula„ Yugoslavia, She spoke the Ingoelav language and visited thecountry in 1952. MIMIC said that this woman was believed to be *ourfriend* and was for the information of KOSUTIC to use se he saw fitwhenever he was in Sacramento. KOSTTIC stated that this person's namehad been supplied by the agricultural specialist from Sarajevo namedMAHAR who had visited in the San Francisco-Sacramento Area and hadmet AM13 MILS. MIMIC also alvised that he had cautioned them ( the thannot being explained bstt believed to be either the Bslgçsde Governmentor the San Francisco Consulate)in reference to one VIOVACC andin May he had reported a little more in detail on this. There was nofurtheroxplanation concerning this individual and the interest of the&ham in him. However, it is known that a man named VIDO KOVACEVICresides in Loa Angeles, California, where MI* reported to be connectedwith the *Chetnik* Serbs. HANDIC also asked KOSUTIC to chalk with thenewspapers to see if the Slavic liontailof Southern California had been .1placed on the subversive list. He asked K66UTIC to drop him a lineconcerning the above. He further state/ that he did not doubt that KOUTIChad reported on it before but there *were no comrades here in thatveorkto tell us something about it."

-3..

SF /05-751

Consul Genera/ RAFO IVAM3FIC was mentioned in a speechgiven in early May 1954 before the Commontlealth Group of San Francisooby a WILLIA;:SE/TH of the Threadsdller Corporation address unknown,wherein HAM IV.00EVIC was labeled a "spy", and TITO a "Trojan horse"in'the lqesterdi Divisioa branch. No plausible specific information asto why WILLIAM:11TH considered RAM IVANCEPIC * spy was given in the'speech as printed in the written clab ibulletin. RAFO IVxXHVIC adviseda reporter of the San Francisco Chronicle that the remarks of :ILLIUSNYTHwere "all lies". (T-2, 5/7/54)

/COSMIC told NO:31C that he had sent in the material on thisaftairppointing out that the same speech had been made in Nie York andin Los Angeles by the same man. ?'ODIC called WILLTAKsmriN a "'mil knownspy" but did not elaborate. MANTIS instructed the San Franoisco Consulateto ask for additional time before the group to state its position. (T-2, 5/13/54)

No further action way reported as to this item. One of KCSUTICIacontacts continued to be RISTCNFR -213 of the !unpyvale Area. on April 10,1954 RisTn :PREZIO came to the densu/Ate and after visiting KOSUTIC decidedto go "do some stork" in the area of aasTo SPR7213 2 s home, On April 11, 1954.

It was indicated that Kg. & MR5. USTO SPRIM would probablyserve dinner for KOSUTIC and his family afterwards. AlthoewOO the natureat this work was not indicated, it appeared that RISTO SFRSND would accompanyKOSUTIC in whatever he had to do. (T-2, 4/10/54)

On April 6, 1954 TANS SFR5.210, broth of the above, cane to1' 4the Consulate to report that the(Revere4 IJ5R0i-, .4 ICH had been barred

from the Russian Orthodox Church at 443 Divisid" • Street, San Francisco.(T-2 4/6/54)Reverend %MOW VUKSICH was formerly a Serbian Orthodoxpriest in San Francisco who hal been removed from his position. Hewas noted as being in contact with KOSUTIC on earlier occasions.

It is to be noted that the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Churchis located at 443 Divisidero FAreet, San Francisco.

SF T-5 advised in 1953 that the St. Nicholas Church was underthe jurisdiction Of the Russian Orthodox Church of Moscow and moat ofits members were Soviet sympathisers.

•■•■•■•■••■■.■••••ro.rap.....p....

4—_•••■•■••-,—.• • • •AAL•vr:Tr. • •10.. :•••• - • 'ftile.•■••■

EF 105.751

SF T.1 reported on April 9, 54 concerning a conversationbetween KO:UTIC and the Reverend DOSIT . oBa:olvIca of the-SerbianOrthodox nurch in San Francisco, which c nversation took place onOctober 28, 1952. Although this tonversationoccurred some time ako itLe being sat forth below as follows:

The Reverend DISIVZ OtRAOOVICH reported to KISUTIC thatthere had been only about 2,000 Serbs present at the Orthodox Churchfestival in Los Angeles and this was considered a poor turnout, inasmuchas there ware over 5,000 Serbs residing in Southern California. He furthertold KOSDTIC that ::31,000 1725 collected on that day and he (Rev. DOSIMIVIADnVIC4) had net with ArchbishopiDllUISIJ7 who in turn visited withReverend J 7.•. !1.R7 VUKSICA in San Francisco on his way back East. Accordingto DOSIM OBRAWItR, the Archbishop asked him to do work along them:lines in San Francisco, guarding the unity of the Church and not per.witting the neHly arrived elements (possibly referring to the Chetniks)to interfere with the internal affairs of the Church. According to DOSIT31otnADIVICH, the Reverend NIKOLAJ had been first invited to conduct the churcheervices but the Archbishop opoosed this move, indicating that only he or hisrepresentative would consecrate the ground upon which the new church was tobe erected. However, the Archbishop did invite Reverend AllinLAJ as hisguest to be present at the consecration and he then permitted him toconduct the service. 01SITiI ' .ERPDVICR also reported that the formerAmbassador of Yugoslavia, KlIrTAHMArTIC, was present at the affaii'but it appeared to the Reverend Mit he had begun to lose his positionamong the Serbs. Atcording to KOEDTIO, 1BRKOOVICH was wellinformed on the situation in the Serbian Hational Defense and he pointedout that at San Francisco they had a follower by the name of DHASMVICwho was trying to become e leader with the Serb cology.

DOSIT21 1BRAXVICH also reported that Archbishop JIOUISIJEwas present at a dinner in Los Angeles, which was given at the home of awealthy unnamed Serb and the Archbishop criticised the Serb positionin the Artukovic Case. He stated that those present considered themselvesgood Serbs but had failed to go out and kill this criminal.

In regard to the gift of the American Church donated tothe Yegoalav Church,' 10EIT3I trnAO1VICI1 complained that theYugoalav Government did not exempt this rift from the usual customs tax. A letter

-5-

SF 105-751

to this effect was sent out ta ti l e various c:lurch groups ant read tothen awl when. Vila inforrsstion was received it aroused considerableiissatisfaction and was Ectolained as a !love on the part of the YugoslavGovernment t persecute the church.

Another Serb contact of Consul ':")UTIC has been the ReverendPalk-'1 1:11SICH of Los‘Angeles. rIFUTIC, on M..' 5, 195h, told ConsulateStenographer VGRO:AAV :1157.C :1 to contact her father, the Reverend

ViTISIC!i, at the Consulate's expense to find out aholit his retirement.ant his plans to visit ''ugoslavia. (T-2, 5/5/54). GEO KrAlirfiLC 5,TIC, Presidentof the erb Orthodox Church Committee, St. Fava, Los Anceles, in late April195h told -.0.5LITIC that the Reverend igKO qUIs ICH was to retire from thechurch and return to Yugoslavia. (T-1, 1/27/94).

The aeverend in Hay, 1954 advised XOSUTIC that he expected toarrive in Celgrade June e, 19511 at which time he planned to visit the

pmadireh of the Serb . Orthodox Church to tell hia: about the Rerrerend.*:I/OLAJ who had awaked - an unfriendly position. /COSMIC advisedhis Government or the expected arrival of the Reverend ITlx:b VUISICHand his expressed desire to meet xrith the Yugoslav leaders. (T-1, 5/26/54)

Consul XOSUTIC sug g ested to the Reverend .1 • !ZO VU1SICHthat he should look up his relative DSJA,..%401.2IC at the elliaistry. • He saidhe was sure that this man woull be glad to assist the Reverend duringhis stay in Belgrade. (T-2, 5/13/54).

IN■N

Among the contacts of X WI,UTIC is P)SYG a Saa FranciscoYugoslay. T-3 aivised that the son is a friend. of it oXILAI, who islikewise a friend of KOZUTIC. Consul General 7.AFO IVX.J1111-C toldT-3 that he did not trust either of these men as both ap peared pro-

Tito ant he considered them to be Pro-Cominform.

AkT SPOLAR once told AFO IVA!-CSVIC that he had been activein the Cosynnist Party in Penns ylvania and he was sure that the FRI knewall about him so he was not doinp anything political any wore. T.!3said RAF') 11/42JC ;TIC believed that :AIL P1SIC was not associated with

FP11,77. in the Pennsqvania activities. In any case RAPO IVAI1CWICfelt that both these men were "slippery."

- • •

;46), .

• SF los-751

NR.&31F..KOSIITIC Awned to drop in SktIta-ZOS/0.2Amikv: onApril 26, 1951, for an unknown purpose. !MIL POSIC was at home duringthe day listening to the Nt Carthy hearings. KOEUTIC thought thehearings were a comedy and S:ffL POSIC wrested that tbeybit.allowedto continne..,. (T-2, 4/26/54)

At the beginning of April 1954 KOSUTIC was in Los Angeles,California. On April 15, 1954 KOEUTIC stated that he had been inLOS Angeles for the three previous nooks working on an interestinginheritance case where there was no will but many relatives were seekingshares, including an alleged adopted son who wanted to be namedadministrator. None of the heirs lived in Yugoslavia. (T-2, 4/15/54).

T-2 also advised that the case &vaunted to over tlq0)C00,andinvolved the estate of a man named RADOVICH. The efforts of KOSUTICwere in attempting to have the heirs residing in the United States wee'to give a settlement of 455,000 to the heirs in Yugoslavia, As ofApril 3, 1954 these heirs in the United States had offered 440,0:0but this amount had been turned down by the Yugoslav Oovernment in 'beklalfof the IUgoslav heirs. (T-2, 5/4/54). A Los Angeles attorney namedJuni J. PATinICH was acting in behalf of the Yugoslav Government in thisease. (T-2, h/1/54).

uhile in Los Angeles, KOSUTIOaccompanied a vi iting Yugoslavofficial fron iVashington, D.C., namely Lt. GenerelLDA, C, , the1Nsgoslav Military Attache. Lt. General DAMTD =IC first toSan Francisco and then proceeded to Los Angeles, after which he intendedto make a visit to ilew Orleans and manm qheok toWashington.47.05)

1115.1112R- atkompted unaucceeSfully to contact CHARLIMIIMMLLNAUof Los Angeles Areperding a studio visit for the GiniiiiIT-Aiihoukhunable to make this contact,' .. he did arrange for N.AVVIAa aIIngoalav businessman of Huntingmto Park, California, to met the Generalat the airport and show him around town, The Generelpleanedto stayat the Mayflower Hotel iile in Los Angeles. (T-2 4/2/54).

Also while KOEUTIC was in Los Angeles, the Yugosly Filmrepresentative, OBILAUSCAVIC, asked him to meet with a theWestern field repreeen time of the American-Jewish Congress, nd a mannamed : SELIMOVIC. KOSUTIC stated that he could only tell these peoplethat OBRAD OLUSCEVIC was the President of the Jadran Files and nothing elsebecause he actually knew nothing else about the Mao (T.-2, 4/3/54).

■•••••Te-..Viertztalsessaa,

105451

in Los Angeles, T-2 said KOSUTIC stayed at theillvaU Hotel. Before going to Los Angeles, Turn IVANCEVIC had.e followine items for KO:WIC to handle 'when he was in Los Angeles:

See BOODAPOPOVIC concerning SINCIC and his niece, andalso concerning J VRANEEIC who was in jail.

The Consulate would agree to toward any appeal to thelgoslaI Government. \

Talk to MAT IOVACWIC about his nephew TOMISLAV.

See Attorney RONALD ':ALK.a

Meet with G. RADOM (identity of the letter is hot knomnibutit might be in connection with the estate for which KOSUTIO wasin Los Asgeles) (114, /02/54).

GEORONOVACVIC has been a Los Angeles contact of KOSUTIC.CIACITIC -in April 1054 told YOSUTIC that he was going to Yugoslavia

1954 for a visit of several months. He discussed the resignationf the Reverend HIM VDISICH and mentioned that he approved of the'lest BLAC who apparently was serving the St. Sava Serbian Orthodoxhureh at that Um* KOVACLVIC wanted to be sure that the bishop didot send them any . IVhauviniatic trash' such as they had atsSt. Stepharie!lurch. KOVACMIC had written an article for the newspaper "NovilelPiehich /COSMIC could send in for him but if he did, he should notihow who had written the arttcle because of KOVACRVIC Ia delicate position.n connection with the Perbsoa. the newspaper Sr3obrenymould never!orgive him. From this it would appear that the letter was a criticismif some Serb activit-. (T-1.,,)1/27/911)

KOStlIC was interested in all phases of estate letter. PreviouslyLt was reported that the Consulate considered it had suffered a bed setbackIn the ARBULIC Case which held that reciprocity in estates had not existed,etween Yugoslavia and the United States at the time of the death of thepossessor of the. estate and hence to:lameay could be sent to Yugoslavia,hiring the period of this report the case known as theMeggair calm wasgelded and held that reciprocity would exist. This decision was presentedto xamic and he innediately wanted to call a conference of the 'Zest Coast

43-•

• a/alammar•afts

SF 195-751 CONFICENTAL.

lawyers aerving the Consulate in estate matters to discute this newdevelopmmnt. Amoog those to be included would be),K4OMZVOLITgER of SanFrancisco, PBTS1 AXSCW iuldABE of Pott/ and JOAN J iWSTida of LoaAncelee, As well 6204000iA/POPOVIC of the Embassy ttars (T-1, 5/17/54)

BCODAN POPO= of the Embassy in discussing estate problemspointed out the desirability of wavering the calendar to keep casesfrom appearing before "die hard Catholic" judges and KOSUTIC mentionedthat it was a Catholic judge who had ruled against him in the case thathe had lost in Los Angeles. KHOV/C Wes not too enthusiastic for aconference among the above-mentioned lawyers, saying that it had beenhis experience one could not get lawyers to agree on anything. (T-2, 5/14/54)

Among the contacts of a more social nature, K UTIC and hiswife were invited to a cocktail party at the home of C, 4131Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California. (T- .2, 4/14/54)

KOSUTIC and his wife were. invited to a repeption at the HamiltonAir Force Base on 22, 1954. KOSUTIC indicated he knew no one there.(T•22 4113/54) • N,

KOSUTIC and his wife were invited to the home of BNAALEBat Cupertino, California, on Hay 21, 1954. (T-2, 5P1/54)

KOSUTIC and his family planned. to attend a picnic of the Serbson hay 23, 1954. The name of the man who invited KOSUTIC was not given.(T-2, 5/18/94)

-p-