Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1904

Mr. Jackson to Mr. Hay.

American Legation,
Athens , May 14, 1904 .

No. 40, Servian series.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that upon my arrival in Belgrade on the 6th instant I put myself in communication with the Servian foreign office, calling upon Mr. N. Pachitch, the minister of foreign affairs, getting acquainted with him and various other officials, and leaving with him a written request for an audience with the King for the presentation of my credentials. Within twenty-four hours my calls were returned, and on the afternoon of May 7 I received a communication in which it was stated that King Peter would receive me on Monday, the 9th.

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A short time before the hour set for the audience I was called for at my hotel by the acting marshal of the court, and was taken by him to the palace in a gala court carriage, with outriders and accompanied by a cavalry escort. In the courtyard of the palace the guard presented arms and a band played “Hail Columbia,” soldiers lined the palace stairs, and about a dozen adjutants and court officials awaited me in the anteroom. As I entered the reception room from one end the King entered at the other, and His Majesty walked forward to meet me. After the formal speeches in French, translations of which are appended hereto, the King took the President’s letter from me,^a gave me his hand; and asked me to accompany him to another room, where we sat down and where the conversation was of an informal character. In this room we were followed by the minister of foreign affairs, the acting marshal of the court, and the King’s private secretary (his cousin), and refreshments were served according to the national Servian custom. His Majesty subsequently took me to still another room, where I was presented to the crown prince, the princess, and the several other younger members of the royal family who happened to be in Belgrade at the time. After a few minutes’ informal conversation the King rose and I took my departure. Before leaving the palace the adjutants and other officials were presented to me, and on passing through the courtyard the guard again presented arms, and the American air was played a second time. I was brought back to my hotel with the same escort which had accompanied me to the palace—an officer, 24 men, and several noncommissioned officers.

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I have, etc.,

John B. Jackson.

[Inclosure 1.]

Text of Mr. Jackson’s speech on presenting his credentials to King Peter of Servia, May 9, 1904.

Sire: I have the honor to hand to Your Majesty the President’s letter accrediting me as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America. I have been charged to convey to Your Majesty the best wishes of the President and the American Government for the prosperity of Servia under Your Majesty’s reign. My instructions are to endeavor to advance the interests and prosperity of the American and Servian governments, and to render myself acceptable to Your Majesty. I shall endeavor to carry out these instructions to the best of my ability.

[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]

Text of King Peter’s reply.

Mr. Minister: In receiving from your hands the letter of His Excellency the President of the United States of America, by which you are accredited near my person as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, I beg you to assure the President, as well as the Government of the Republic, that I am deeply touched by the good wishes which they have expressed for me and for Servia, and that, sharing the sentiments which animate them, and of which you are the interpreter, I shall neglect nothing which may realize and facilitate a closer rapprochement between our two countries.

As to you, Mr. Minister, I take pleasure in informing you that the selection of yourself as minister is especially agreeable to me, and that you may also count upon the cooperation of my Government in the accomplishment of your task.

1. Not printed.