CIC Memorandum
From the US Army file on Ante Pavelic: This memo, on the subject of an article in the Swiss press about the author's meeting with Ante Pavelic in Rome, marks the first appearance in the papers we have of Special Agent William Gowen. By following leads, staking out locations and developing informants in Rome, within six months Gowen had Pavelic's precise location and his highly-placed benefactors nailed down, forcing his superiors to hastily shut down the entire investigation.

 

COUNTER INTELLIGENCE CORPS
ROME DETACHMENT
ZONE FIVE
A.P.O. 512, U.S. ARMY

 

WEG:jc
17 January 1947
Case#4512

MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE:

SUBJECT: Ante PAVELIC, Article in "L'ILLUSTRE" of Lausanne.

RE: Didier de Roussilon

     1. A telephone request was received by this office from Colonel Snowden, Chief, CID, Austria for an investigation on an article printed in Swiss newspapers about an interview with Ante PAVELIC. Pursuant to the instructions from the Supervising Agent of this Detachment an investigation was carried out by these Agents.

     2. The article entitled "Quelques Minutes Avec Ante PAVELIC" and signed Didier de Roussilon was printed 7 November 1946 in the Lausanne "L'Illustre. It is believed to have been printed also in the Zurich "Illustrierte" at about the same time. From the article in "L'Illustre" the ROME newspaper "La Tribuna" printed an article entitled "Ante Pavelic attende di marciare su Belgiado", 20 November 1946.

     3. In the article the writer claims to have left Ciampino Airport, ROME, one morning in September and to have been ushered in to PAVELIC five hours later at a hotel in Graz, Austria. Two American Officers were present, the writer asserts. In the interview PAVELIC claims to have left Croatia, not because of TITO, but to preserve the peace of Yugoslavia. The two Americans smile, PAVELIC then asserts that Yugoslavia would be even more unfortunate if German imperialism be replaced by Soviet imperialism, and states that he is all for alliances (against Russia). The writer relects [sic] that America and Britain are now PAVELIC's allies. The interview closes as the two Americans indicate the writer to leave.

     4. A check at the Swiss Legation in ROME revealed that the article had caused a great stir and that Legation Officials had contacted Swiss newspaper men to ascertain particulars regarding "Didier de Roussilon". The result of their own investigation revealed that de Rousillon is unknown both to the Legation and Swiss newspaper men in ROME.

     5. A check at the Military Permits Office, U.S. Embassy, ROME, revealed no record of a "Didier de Roussilon" going to Graz, Austria.

     6. A check at Ciampino brought negative results since no such passenger was booked on either ACT or EATS (the article mentioned ATC). Nor was there any special flight with such a passenger on record at operations.

REMARKS:

     The fact that "Didier de Roussilon" is unknown might prove only that the name is either false or a pen name. However, the complete lack of substantiating information in ROME tends to show that the whole incident did not occur. With the dialogue of the supposed interview, de Roussilon endeavors to prove only one point: that PAVELIC is being used by the Americans. PAVELIC's answers thrown no light on anything and are, in the opinion of these Agents, contradictory. The statement that he left Yugoslavia not because of TITO but only to preserve the peace is definitely contradictory. At the same time he is supposedly fighting secretly against TITO for Britain and the United States!

AGENTS' RECOMENDATIONS:

     Recommend case be closed.

GEORGE A. ZAPPADA, Special Agent, CIC
WILLIAM E.W. GOWEN, Special Agent, CIC

 

:: filing information ::
Title: CIC Memorandum
Source: US Army, declassified.
Date: January 17, 1947 Added: October 2002