Y u g o s l a v D o c u m e n t s No. I YUGOSLAVIA AT WAR Collection of Official Pronouncements ★ Price 6d. ★ 1941 Published by the Yugoslav Information Department USEFUL ADDRESSES The Y U G O S L A V G O V E R N M E N T O F FIC E S, with the exception of the Foreign Ministry, are at KINGSTON HOUSE, PRINCE’ S GATE, LONDON, S.W.7. The Prime Minister. Tel. N0. : K E N 1127. The Deputy Prime Ministers : M M . Slobodan Jovanovitch, Dr. Juraj Krnjevitch, Dr. Miha Krek. Tel. Nos. : KEN 1123, 1124, 1125. War Department (Army, Navy, Air Force). Tel. N0. : K E N 1123. Transport and Shipping. Tel. Nos. : KEN 1123, 1124. Ministry of Finance. Tel. N0. : K E N 2433. Deputy Minister of Finance. Tel. N0. : K E N 3681. Ministry of Social Welfare (Red Cross). Tel. N0. : K E N 2414. Ministry for Economic Reconstruction. Tel. N0. : K E N 2414. Other Ministers. Tel. N0. : K E N 2414. Yugoslav National Bank : Governor and Vice-Governor. Tel. N0. : K E N 2433. Information Office (Press, propaganda, etc.). Tel. N0. : K E N 2444. The Foreign Ministry, 41, Upper Grosvenor Street. Tel. N0. : GRO 2336. The Minister of the Royal Court, 41, Upper Grosvenor Street. Tel. N0. : GRO 2336. Royal Yugoslav Legation, 195, Queen’s Gate, S.W.7. Tel. N0. : K E N 4903. Press Attache. Tel. N0. : K E N 3531. The Yugoslav Red Cross. Tel. N0. : H O L 4521. YUGOSLAV DOCUMENTS No. i DECEMbER i, 1941 IT H this, the first of a long series of phamphlets which we intend to publish on Yugoslavia, under the general W heading of “ Yugoslav Documents,” we wish to introduce our subject to the public of the Allied nations. Not that we had any doubts about their sympathy for us and for our cause, which is only part of their own. but they will have the mission to act so that all the allied nations which fight together the most fateful battle in the history ot mankind should know one another better, and help one another with a greater understanding— fostered by knowledge and mutual respect— when the time will be ripe for the democratic and moral New Order in the world. Our pam- phlets will deal with Yugoslavia; the land, peoples, history, culture, politics, war effort; her sorrows and undying faith. They ought to be, and to remain, historical documents reveal- ing the soul of Yugoslavia, the soul of a brave and fighting nation in one of the greatest periods of human history and of her own history. T he first pamphlet consists exclusively of documents which in their simplicity and straightforwardnes teil the true story of the national upheaval in Yugoslavia against the Germans and the Italians, and of the part Yugoslavia’s forces played on the common front of humanity when Germany and Italy assailed her. The speeches of the Prime Minister, General Simović, teil this story in the most vivid and convincing way. It has been said that the whole of Yugoslavia was not in this uprising of a revolted nation. The Prime Minister’s Statement, followed by the statements of the chief representative of the Croats, the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Krnjević, and the Statement of the leader of the Slovenes, the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Krek, reveal the truth. The whole of Yugoslavia, Serbs, Croats and Slovenes are gathered round their young King Peter II, who represents the soul of Yugoslavia, which has been saved, as the british Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, put it on the 27Ü1 March, 1941, when Yugoslavia joined the Allied front. What has Yugoslavia done in her war? This question is answered in the first part of the pamphlet. What is her aim now? The reply to this question is given in another speech by the Prime Minister, General Simović, and in the Jerusalem Declaration of the Government, endorsed by the signatures of all the Ministers who, in their political composition, represent all the political forces of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. A declaration of H.M. King Peter II gives his supreme approval. This, then, is “ Yugoslavia at w a r” in the first stage of her fight along with the Allied front. Another pamphlet, which we might announce at once, will teil the story of the heroic struggle of a nation that is not wont to be enslaved, the epics of the Serbian mountains, and the valiant resistance of the Slovenes and the Croats to the German and the Italian in- truders. A third pamphlet will present a picture of the “ New Order ” in Yugoslavia, telling about German firing squads shooting down innocent women and children, about hundreds of thousands of persons deported, sent away into stränge lands, of lootings, rapes, hunger and starvation. These pamphlets are predestined and bound to make history; based as they are on reality and strict truth and the fairest justice being their guiding principle, even in times to come— when the tragedies of present- day Europe may only be a memory, distant memory or forgotten past— they will permanently remain a reliable record for future historians. That being also one of their objects as well as a deeper justification, they were named “ Yugoslav Documents.” Other pamphlets will follow, telling about the just claims of Yugoslavia, not only to be restored to her former state, but to unite within her frontiers all brothers and sisters of her race and of her blood, and to get the guarantees for a peaceful develop­ ment in the security of a true .New Order which will protect her and every nation in the world against the tragedies which they ihave to endure at the present time. London, December 1, 1941. THE ADDRESS The Yugoslav Prime Minister, General Dušan Simović, presented on be­ half of his Government, on September 6, 1941, to H.M. the King of Yugoslavia the following address:— SIRE, H A V E the honour, on behalf of the Government, to present our most loyal congratulations on the occasion of I Your birthday. Together with You, we would have wished to celebrate this day surrounded by our people, in our free coun- try, as the day of rejoicing and the day of faith and hope in a better future for our country. but, alas! this did not depend on our will. An overwhelming enemy occupied our beautiful country. In spite of Your youth, You courageously stood all the phy- sical and spiritual hardships in the firm and unshakable decision not to allow the banner of freedom and independence of Yugo­ slavia to fall into the hands of the enemy. W ith that decision You enabled our people to confirm for ever its right of existence and life in freedom. Sire, before You there are still many years of life and work. The future is Yours. Your forefathers were also men of vision, thinking, planning, and having high aims for the future. They started with the liberation of Serbia, and continued with the creation of Yugoslavia. May God grant that You, Sire, may make a further step forward and become one of the creators of a balkan Solidarity. You, who are carrying high the banner of national honour and independence of Yugoslavia, have con- secrated Yourself to the task of creating a new world of freedom, justice, and mutual collaboration, and You represent one of the spiritual creators and active fighters for a better and happier future of humanity. You are elected to carry and lift the banner of balkan freedom, solidarity and unity, under which all people of the balkan and the Danubian countries might gather who wish to live in peace, unity, and neighbourly love. On this day, which may be a day of faith, we direct our prayers to the Almighty that He may give You a long life for the happiness of our people and our dear country, and we unite in saying: Long live Your Majesty King Peter II.! Long live Her Majesty Queen Marie! Long live Yugoslavia! Long live the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes! H.M. KING PETER II replied with the following message:— O DAY, on my first birthday as ruling King of Yugoslavia, all my thoughts and feelings are with you, my dear Yugo­ T slavs, you, who are now suffering so acutely at the hands of a ruthless enemy. Although physically I am far from my beloved country and separated from you, my people, I am with you heart and soul, and daily share your anguish as echoes of your agony reacli me. I will have no peace so long as your sufferings last, and until you receive satisfaction and just retribution for your present sufferings. The world crisis has like a whirlwind involved also Yugo- siavia, and has brought upon us much pain and many trials. but it has at the same time brought indissolubly together the King and the People. When on the a^th March I took the royal power into my own hands, I was but obeying the voice of my people, who wished to tread a new path both in foreign and home policy. I am inspired continually by the example of my glorious ancestors, who have left shining memories behind them as leaders of great national movements. In following their example, which has shown how the strength of a people brings freedom to life, I am determined to work in unison with my people. That unison will have to be manifested in a fully democratic government.