FOREIGN POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES; THE SERV ANTI-CROAT CAMPAIGN

Created: 4/13/1942

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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OF INFORMATION

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FOHEIGN POLITICS IK THE UNITED STATES

ntl-Croat Caapalgn

Prior tonly outward evidence of Serb-Croat agreement In the United States emanated froa toiw Croatian quarter*.

Anil-Serb and pro-Pave) Ich, Separatist propaganda the work of the

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FOREIGN NATIONALITIESiLULI

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Croat National Council of Pittsburgh, which favored tho creation of tho Rail puppet-state of Croatia. The noalnal head of the Council, John D. "BulVovlch, is president ofifl "Fraternal Onion; the actual leader of the Council, according to reports, was Dr. Dinhe-TWBashleh,rofessor of sociology at Zagreb University end at that tine visiting professor at Washington University ln St. Louis, another prominentbar or the Council vat Ivjn Hfffshlcb, editor and publisher of the Ne* TorkvulTii Listo Brvatska. PavelIch supporter* vers also grouped aroundPitteburgTTAIt&Vuna Brvattkaeakly which ceased publication shortly after the United States entered the war. It Is Important to note that by no Beans all of the Croats ln this country ara followers of Pavellch; according to none observers, tho najorlty of American Croats still acknowledge the leadership of Dr.m inho, because of his refusal to have any dealings with the puppet-st^te of Croatia, was interned by the Germans.

Early ln November, lUe-rbabran Initiated tbe anti-Croat campaign which continues today. W'^-'f tbe most Influential Serb-language dally In the United States, Is the official organ of the Serb Nationalraternal benefit society with headquarters In Pittsburgh. In the past it had invariably supported every Yugoslav Government currently In power and had upheld the unity of the Serb, Croat, and Slovene peoples In the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Thus, for Instance, the Srfcoftron defended the Cvethovlch-Machek Government which signed the Hitler-imposed Tripartite Pact; lalerelcomed with equal enthusiasm the Slmovlcn coup d'etat which overthrew the CvetkovIch-Kachek Government.

The shift In the Srbobran's policy coincided with the arrival in this country ofOrfchich, former Yugoslav Minister to llucliarest and Madrid, who is reported toriend of General Franco. Duchleh is the chief strategistroup called the Serb National Defense Council( organized In South Chicago onM1. The president of the Council la his brother, Milanairy owner in Gary, Indiana, and Its financial backer is Mile Radakovleh, reported to have been aduring prohibition. Some years ago the Yugoslav Minister to the United States, Mr. Fotlch, conferred on Radakovlch the order of St. Sava "for culturalr. Fotlch Is said to have visited him at his home in Joliet, Illinois, lest March. The ultimate objective of the Serb National Defense Council is the creationGreater Serbia" rather tliufi the reconstructionnited Yugoslavia.

COORDINATOR OF NATIONALITIES BRANCH

BPPROWDfORREUASl DATI SIPIlll

accused of sending to the pro-Pavelich Croat Notional Council. The

Srbcbran attacked the Croat Katlonal Council as the representative ofthe American Croats and as the voice of the Croats in the Mother

Later the Srbobran extended Its campaign to an attach on Dr.an Subaslch, Governor of Croatia,had com to this country aa head or the Yugoslav Mission to the United States. It accused hlai of sharing the known Serbophobe sentiments of his American secretary, the Separatist Professor Tonashlch referred lo above, and continued to attach him even after Toatashlch had been disalsved and Subaslch had on various public occasions spoken unreservedly for Yugoslav unity both here and abroad.

It was tlio Srtooron'i Issue ofhich revealed most clearly that tha paper thenceforth would oppose) the reconstruction of

a united Yugoslav state consisting of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, and that it-advocated instead the creationGreater Serbia" under the slogan of "Ono People, One State, One Xing." lack-bordered first page, ltetailed account of the suppression of the Serbs by Pavellch and accused the Croat peoplehole of sympathizing with his Separatist puppet-slate. In reply, American Croats indignantly pointed out that the Croat followers of Dr. Machek had endured slollar treatment and asked why the Srbobran omitted criticism of the Serbian

OF INFORMATION

H1FS BMNCH

The most conspicuous effort so to combat the 'Greater Serbia"

movement started by the Srftoeran and lo re-establish Yup.oslav unity has

beenuhs rally held In Now York Clly on ersons

attended this oeelIng, which was sponsored by the Union of Yugoslav

roup recently organized onleal lines by tlm Croat

and Serbian departatants of the International Workers Order. (The Union

of Yugoslav Americans Is one of similar groups formed by. after

o keep national groups In this country unitedly behind

the prosecution of *heAt the Marchally, the platform was

decorated with pictures of President Roosevelt and General Mihajlovlch;

Xing Peter's picture was omitted. It la reported, ln deference to the republican sentiments of American Yugoslavs. Tlio meeting opened with the "Star-Spangledut the Yugoslav hymn was not sung; Instcsu, the Pan-Slav hymn, "Geas substituted.

The major speakers were three members of the Yugoslav Cabinet, now with the Yugoslav Mission to the United States: c_Subaslch. Savoand Subasich and SnoJ stressed the Importance of maintaining Yugoslav unity, and urged their listeners to dopossible In this country to aid General Mihajlovlch and his guerrilla army. It Is reported that the mention of President Roosevelt's name produced more applause than the references to America Itself;to England producedlld reaction, but every mention of Russiaild acclaim.

Kosandvlch attacked tha "Greater Serbia" campaign of the Srbabran

COORDINATOR OFNATIONALITIES BRANCH

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aid that the Serbs should accept the greatest share of the of nited Jugoslavia. He declared that the future of all mankind, not merely the future of Yugoslavs, was Involved In theand emphasized that General Mihajlovlch mmt fighting, notGreaters both the Serb and Croat extremists maintained, butnited Yugoslavia. His speechremendous ovation.

The success of this unity meeting may be taken as evidence that the Srbab'- ' views do not represent thoae of all Serb Americans. Indeed, the Supreme Board of the Serb National federation, whose organ the Sr6ofcroa is, did not consult its member* before shifting the paper's policy to Its present anti-Croat direction. Furthermore, it should be emphssl/ed that heretofore Minister Fotlch and the Yugoslav Governotcnt-In-fcxlle have apparently Ignored the anti-Croat campaign, so that in some quarters lt Is believed that Mr. Fotlch approves since he has not severed his Informal connections with Yovan Duchleh and his extremist Serb group. The Yugoslavle, lt Is reported, Is still paying Yovan Duchlcb's salary, since he Is here on sick leave, andDionlsIJc, head of the Serbian Church, who also la at present ln the "Groater Serbia" camp, still receives his regular government subsidy-It Is argued that If the Yugoslav Government actively sought to promote and maintain harmony between American Serbs and Croats, much of theextremist controversy could be eliminated.

The followingist of prominent Croat and Serb leaders who could be influential Ineconciliation of the two groups:

COORDINATOR OF NATIONALITIES BRASCH

IR RILEUE DATISIPIOQI

for tht croatt:

Dr. ark Avenue, Now York City.

Donth Place, Forest Hills, Long Island.

O) .William Hfaoyd-Bolch,9 Lskeshoreleveland, Ohio.

M)ifth. Yorkroadway, New York City. for tht serbs;

!T2 Central Park South, Kew Tork City.

Time and Life Building,York City.

^o) Vaa^rTrlvanovltch.'Hotcl New weston, New York City.Dr.Yugoslav Minister ofDr. Paui-aadosavljcvleh, Columbia University, New TorkKlkola-resla/TTotel New Yorker, New Yorka Slovene-American, has enormous prestigebranches of

COORDINATOR OF FORKIGN NATIONALITIES BRANCH

EFFFDYJO FOR RULES! DMI-SEP1MI

Original document.

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