860h.01/21
The Serbian Chargé ( Simitch ) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received January 6, 1919.]
Mr. Secretary: I am instructed by my Government to submit herewith the following communication:
[Page 893]In accordance with the decision of the Central Committee of the National Council of Zagreb which represents the State of all the Serbian Croatian and Slovene provinces within the boundaries of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, a special Delegation has arrived at Belgrade on the 1st of December. This Delegation by one [a] solemn address, presented to His Highness the Crown Prince, has proclaimed the Union of all the Serbian Croatian and Slovene provinces of the former Dualist Monarchy into one single State with the Kingdom of Serbia under the Dynasty of His Majesty King Peter and under the regency of the Crown Prince Alexander. In the reply to this address His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has proclaimed the Union of Serbia with the above mentioned independent State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs into one single Kingdom: “Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.” His Highness has accepted the regency and will form a common Government. On the 17th of December His Royal Highness the Crown Prince received in audience a delegation from Montenegro. This Delegation has submitted to His Highness on the 26th of November the decisions of the Great National Assembly of the Kingdom of Montenegro. By virtue of these decisions His Majesty King Nikolas I, and His dynasty have been declared destitute of all the rights upon [to] the throne of Montenegro and the Kingdom of Montenegro, united to Serbia under the dynasty of Karageorgevitch, is included in the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has declared that He accepts with pleasure and thanks these decisions. A common Government for the new Kingdom has been organized on the 21st of December. The Legations, Consulates and other Missions of the Kingdom of Serbia will be the Legations, Consulates and other Missions of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
Bringing the above to the knowledge of the United States Government, the Serbian Government is strongly convinced that their communication will be met sympathetically:—The Union of all the nations of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in one single state, which results from the imprescriptible right of the people to dispose of their destiny.
I take [etc.]