File No. 763.72/10303
The Ambassador in Italy ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9.51 p.m.]
1715. Have received a call from Jugo-Slav representative, Signor Trumbić, who expresses great appreciation of your statement touching their aspirations for independence. He says that the provision in the secret treaty of London touching Jugo-Slav territory had disastrous effect which is now subsiding. That Jugo-Slavs must in the future be independent of all other powers including Italy. He referred to the Allies’ statement of sympathy at Versailles; [expressed] great disappointment because both drew clear line of division between Poland’s and Jugo-Slav aspirations. He says that they have many Jugo-Slav prisoners here in Italy who wish to form a legion like Czecho-Slovak Legion and fight on Allied side. I pointed out that Polish independence had long been declared to be one of the war aims of the Allies whereas the Jugo-Slav movement is comparatively recent and an expression of sympathy with it is a distinct step in advance.
Roumanian Minister has called on me with a suggestion that the Roumanians of Galicia who are prisoners here wish to fight for the Allies. He says that they have some 7,000 who would do [so].
Confidentially, I think there is a difference in the Italian view of the Jugo-Slav movement and of the others due in part to want of confidence in the Jugo-Slav idea. I question whether they would at present accede to Trumbić’s proposed legion for the Italian front though they might send some of them to join the Servian forces.