File No. 763.72/7605
The Serbian Minister ( Michailovitch) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 27.]
Mr. Secretary: The Serbian Government has been informed that there will be held in Paris a conference of the Allies of a political character, at which former arrangements will be revised and probably new ones made. Serbia has not been invited to attend this conference, although her political fate will be discussed at it. You [Page 281] can imagine how such a treatment is painfully affecting a small people, which had sacrificed everything it had in the common struggle. In that struggle, the Serbians have been comrades in arms, but they will not even be allowed to be present at the political exchange of views. In the public statements, all peoples—great or small—are declared to be equal, but when the principle is to be applied, this equality no longer exists. Moreover, it is possible that the fate of a small people will be discussed at it, without even consulting about its wishes.
Ordered by my Government, I take the liberty to address the United States Government, with the view to requesting it to defend the principles proclaimed by President Wilson, which we consider will be the base of all negotiations and conferences, as well as the main foundation of future peace.
Considering on the one hand that I am, as a representative of a small people, enjoying in your great Republic the same treatment as all other representatives of great or small states, and, on the other hand, that the United States will have its representative at the conference in Paris, we beg to request you to ask that a similar treatment be extended us at this conference, according to the principles proclaimed by the President Wilson.
We hope and trust that these principles will prevail, because their champion is a great country, free of all ancient prejudices, and therefore we are addressing this request to you.
I beg to present [etc.]