File No. 872.51/23
I am convinced that a favourable solution of the Serbian question would
have the greatest effect on the whole of the Slav race and especially on
Russia in this fateful moment. I think that United States should not
fail to produce this favourable effect which would undoubtedly have good
moral and political influence on the coming events.
I therefore beg of you to use all your influence in order to contribute
to the success of this worthy cause.
[Enclosure]
The Serbian Legation to
the Department of State
The great United States of America, in entering the war declared that
they stand ready to offer assistance to those who fight against the
conquering designs of the Central Powers, to insure with their
cooperation the victory for the principles of justice and equality,
and to assure the existence and the rights of small peoples. This
assistance, therefore, is to be financial, military and political.
Balkan, and its Serbian question, deserve in that regard a special
attention of the United States. The Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian
race, the greater part of which was until now under the despotic
domination of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, desires to be united
and to create its own state, together with the autonomous kingdoms
of Serbia and Montenegro. The efforts of this race manifested
themselves in a political movement among the Southern Slavs in the
Habsburg Monarchy, and this movement was one of the causes of this
great war.
The principle of nationality, and especially the principle of the
rights of small peoples, brought out the question of the very
existence of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which represents the
dynastical interests of the Habsburg House.
The solution of the Serbian question will be one of the main problems
at the future peace conferences, because of the existence of an
independent Serbian state, with which the whole Serbo-Croatian and
Slovenian race, now under the Habsburg Dynasty, demands to be
united. The United States of America will naturally participate in
the solution of this question; its great democratic principles,
demanding a complete and free development of individuals, same as
racial groups, must assure the liberation of small peoples. The [Page 590] Serbian people expect its
liberation from that participation, and hope to receive help which
will enable them to recover quickly from the terrible consequence of
this long and barbaric war.
The noble expressions of President Wilson, therefore, were greeted with the greatest
enthusiasm by the Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian race, by the free
parts of our people, same as by those who are still under enemy’s
domination. These expressions have recently caused great hostile
outbursts of feeling in the Croatian Diet in Agram, notwithstanding
the oppression of the Austrian military régime.
Serbia’s sacrifices, which she endured during the first two Balkanic
wars of 1912 and 1913, are well known; this third war, so savagely
provoked by Austria-Hungary, which is continuing for almost three
years, brought destruction to the land and to the people. It is not
exaggeration to assert, that Serbia lost more than a million people.
Her enemies systematically destroy her people, using all means and
all ways. Villages and cities are ruined, the land devastated, the
live stock carried away, the industrial establishments looted.
Serbia is to-day like a desert. The peace will bring liberty but no
welfare, because there will remain another enemy: poverty and
destitution. The salvation of the Serbian people depends upon the
quick assistance which will be offered to them immediately when
peace is concluded. This assistance should be prepared now. It can
be given by the United States in the form of a loan and a credit,
upon the same basis as will be given to France and England. Just a
very small part of the great loan of three billion dollars would
assure the future of a nation, whose lands will soon become a rich
source of all kinds of products. A loan or credit of a hundred
million dollars is the first help, for the reconstruction of the
destroyed firesides, for the quick acquirement of agricultural
implements and live stock, for the obtaining of food for a people in
order to save them from perishing and to prepare them for a life of
progress and civilisation. This noble and humane aid can be
undertaken to-day by the United States only and they would thereby
gain the appreciation and gratitude of the whole
Serbo-Croatian-Slovenian race.
The United States when entering upon the war decided to do everything
to hasten its end and therefore—first of all—helped the Entente
Allies financially. England, France and Italy received loans and a
promise of future financial support. Serbia also is fighting with
the Allies on the Salonica front. The Serbian Army, Government and
Administration are kept up by the Allies, by their war credits, but
now-a-days the war credits comprise more than merely the military
expenses. All belligerent powers are obliged, at the same time, to
support the families of the fallen warriors, invalids and their
families, the population of the provinces devastated by the war, the
prisoners of war and those interned in the enemy countries, as well
as those who fled from the provinces invaded by the foe. All [Page 591] these expenditures form
the war burden in the same way as the equipment of the army, or the
providing of arms and ammunitions. For securing the victory it is as
important to make sure of the morale of the warriors, of the
sentiments of their families and in general of the population as it
is to provide good guns and plentiful ammunition. The morale side of
the question is perhaps to-day the more important one.
In this respect Serbia has been left almost entirely to the care of
good people and relief societies, which is absolutely insufficient.
Whereas in France, in England and Italy the generosity of United
States has encouraged greatly the morale of the people, the Serbian
soldiers are wondering who is going to take care of their families,
and the people who remained in the invaded Serbia are losing faith
in their future. On the other hand, the Serbian Army and people must
continue to fight and to sacrifice—and, to be enabled to do so, they
should be supported.
The Serbian people hope (1) that the United States will offer Serbia
help in the same way as to the Allied Powers, in granting her at
once a small loan for the said purpose. The way in which the help
would be sent to the people in the invaded provinces, to the
prisoners of war and interned, and the distribution of same, is a
less important technical question that would be easily solved by the
Governments of the United States, Serbia and Allies; (2) that this
great and generous Republic will help the rebuilding of devastated
Serbia.
The Serbian people hope that United States will help them and believe
that their benefactor will find moral and political reasons to do
so—which could be important in the near future, and for which action
it is now the best moment. The Slav element in Russia, the Balkans
and in both Americas would greet with enthusiasm such a noble action
of United States, and their relatively small effort would have a
great effect on a whole race.
To insure opportunity to a small people to develop in freedom, is a
doctrine of the present-day democracies, and to assist them in
joining soon the ranks of civilised peoples, is a noble and humane
effort which could now be assumed only by the great Republic of the
United States.
