860h.01/21
The Acting Secretary of State to the Yugoslav Minister (Grouitch)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of an undated Note from the Serbian Charge d’Affaires4 stating that in accordance with a decision of the Central Committee of the National Council of Zagreb, representing the State of all the Serbian, Croatian and Slovene provinces within the boundaries of the former Austro–Hungarian Monarchy, the Serbian Crown Prince has proclaimed the union of all the Serbian, Croatian and Slovene provinces of the former Dualist Monarchy with the Kingdom of Serbia in a single state all under the title of “Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes “under the rule of His Majesty King Peter and the regency of the Crown Prince Alexander.
[Page 900]The Department further notes the statement contained in the Note that in accordance with the decision of a body proclaiming itself the Great National Assembly of the Kingdom of Montenegro, His Majesty King Nikolas I, and His dynasty, had been deposed from the throne of that country and had decreed the union of Montenegro with the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and that this decision had been accepted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Serbia.
The Department further notes the statement that the Legation of Serbia in the United States will, hereafter, be known as the Legation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croatians and Slovenes.
In reply I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the United States welcomes the union of the Serbian, Croatian and Slovene provinces within the boundaries of the former Austro–Hungarian Monarchy to Serbia and recognizes the Serbian Legation as the Legation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croatians and Slovenes.
In taking this action, however, the United States Government recognizes that the final settlement of territorial frontiers must be left to the Peace Conference for determination according to the desires of the peoples concerned.
Accept [etc.]