740.0011 European War 1939/9516: Telegram
The Minister in Yugoslavia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 1—2:37 p.m.]
296. For the President: The King received me today at his Palace which is heavily guarded. I gave him a confirmation copy of your message79 and told him that he had the support of yourself, our Government and a nation of 130 million people. He said that he had already replied to you and that he greatly appreciated your thought of him and that he valued your support more than that of anybody next to his mother, now in England, whom he has asked to return.
I referred to spontaneous enthusiasm in his favor on Friday,80 and as an older man complimented him on his magnificent bearing at Te [Page 974] Deum service and said that his mother would have been proud of him. He seemed very touched and laughingly admitted, “That was the hardest moment of my life. I was scared to death.” He said Prince Paul kept him in ignorance of what was transpiring regarding the pact. In fact, he knew nothing of what was going on in governmental affairs except what he heard secretly through his friends and that the night of the coup d’état he was held a prisoner by General Kosic who would not permit him to receive General Simović. I told him of your messages to Prince and of efforts we had made to prevent Yugoslavia taking step which would make it lose its independence. I said that Prince had repeatedly given me the argument that he was acting only as trustee for King and for that reason he could not refuse to take a step which would guarantee the peace of the country. I told him that I had told Prince he had no right as trustee to hand over to King a country of which latter would be ashamed. The King said, “I am glad that you told him that, but he never told me anything about the President’s messages.”
After reemphasizing that he could call on me at any time either as American Minister or as friend I said I hoped he would not regard my remaining in Belgrade, in event he and Government evacuated capital, as absence of support, but I felt presence of American Legation here would help hold up morale of the people. He said quickly, “But neither I nor the Government is going to leave Belgrade until Germans actually arrive in city.” I said in case planes bombarded city it would not be safe for him to remain. He replied Germans would devastate city and Dedinje where his palace is, but that he would not run away. He said he has an air raid shelter and would not go until last minute. I told him I felt sure you would be delighted to know of his courageous attitude and that his people, who showed their affection for him on Friday in such a spontaneous way that there was no doubt of its sincerity, would be heartened by his fortitude.
He admitted unfamiliarity with what had gone on in the past and said Antić81 was a bad influence over Prince Paul as he would never let him know what the people were thinking.
He then asked me in a straightforward, almost boyish way, “What does the President think of Prince Paul?” As I was thinking of a suitable reply he said “I hope he will not think badly of him. He was really awfully good to me and did what he thought was best for the country.” I told him of your interest in him and of your having told me in January 1939 that you would like him and his mother to visit you and Mrs. Roosevelt at White House. I said I had transmitted this message to Prince Paul who thought it was not advisable because of hostile complications with Germany. He expressed surprise saying Prince Paul had never told him of invitation and that it was absurd [Page 975] 2 years ago to have talked about the effect on Germany. He said “I would have gone like a shot.” He said he had always admired the United States and if England and America win war he would then pay visit to United States.
On leaving I thanked him for having received me so soon (I made request only this morning after appointment of new Minister of the Court) and told him I hoped he would call on me at any time he needed our help or advice. He said he would do so and added that if I had not asked to see him today he would have sent for me.
His show of moral courage, his lack of bitterness towards Prince despite latter’s lack of frankness, and of his evident desire to rely on the United States gives me great hope for his future and for that of the country. His interest in America in current affairs and industries (Prince Paul told me the King eagerly awaited American periodicals which I sent to Palace every week) and his genuine admiration for you, which I assure you was not put on for the sake of pleasing us, will, I feel sure, make it possible for us to be of utmost assistance to him. May I suggest that you immediately send a message to me for him in answer to foregoing as we are in imminent danger of being unable to communicate with the outside.
My audience was to me the most encouraging thing which I have experienced since the crisis started.