File No. 763.72119/1747
The Serbian Minister (
Michailovitch) to the Secretary of State
No. 647
Washington,
June 14, 1918.
Excellency: I beg to forward to you the
enclosed copy of a letter that I have addressed to the Ambassadors
of France, Great Britain, and Italy, concerning the Allied
declaration at the Versailles conference on the fate of the
oppressed nationalities of Austria-Hungary,—which will, I feel
confident, interest you on account of its great importance for our
common cause.
I beg to remain [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Serbian Minister at Washington
(
Michailovitch) to the British, French, and Italian
Ambassadors (
Reading,
Jusserand,
Macchi di Cellere)
No. 647
Washington,
June 14, 1918.
Excellency: The Czecho-Slovak and
Yugo-Slav movement in Austria-Hungary has drawn the sympathetic
attention of the Allied Governments on account of the help it
may bring to the Allied military action and also by reason of
the justice of the demand of the oppressed nationalities in the
Hapsburg Monarchy. The declaration of the Government of the
United States is unquestionably important from that standpoint
and that is why it was enthusiastically received wherever the
Slav element is found because it is regarded as an encouragement
to carry on the fight.
A few days after that declaration the Allied Council of War at
Versailles expressed its opinion on the question of the national
aspirations of the peoples of Austria-Hungary in a manner that
puzzled the Czecho-Slovaks and the Yugo-Slavs and also furnished
to our enemy—Austria-Hungary—the opportunity to turn it to
advantage. Although we, the interested parties, have received no
official communication relative to that declaration of
Versailles—similar to that which acquainted us with the
declaration of the Government of the United States,—we gather
from the information given to the press that the Versailles
declaration establishes a distinction between the independence
of Poland and that of the other nationalities in extending
nothing but sympathy to the Czecho-Slovak and Yugo-Slav
movements. The Austrian press took advantage of this as the
enclosed newspaper clipping will show.1
I take the liberty of drawing Your Excellency’s attention to that
fact which demonstrates the necessity of maintaining closer
relations,
[Page 813]
as to those
questions, with those who are interested therein, not because
they are entitled to such a treatment but because it is the only
way to avoid possible mistakes and more effectively to carry on
that action. Cooperation in those questions is not a matter of
right but it is a duty for us all to act so as to achieve
results that will promote our common cause. This, Excellency, is
the reason for my addressing you with a request that you kindly
bring your great influence to bear in having that important
question advanced in a direction that would not only respond to
the sentiments of the oppressed nationalities, but also, and
particularly so, conform to our common interests.
Be pleased to accept [etc.]
[No signature indicated]
