Paris Peace Conf. 186.3411/105: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received December 19—10:30 a.m.]
40. Following from Italian Embassy December 11th:
“The Commander of the Italian forces in Dalmatia has received, on November 21st ultimo, a telegram from the provincial government [Page 334] of Zagabria asking that the orders of the Italian command to the local authorities be imparted through the central committee of Zagabria. In this telegram the provincial government also protested against Admiral Millo haying prevented officials residing in the territory occupied by the Italians, to take the oath of allegiance to Jugoslavia. To this protest Admiral Millo replied that while he, according to the terms of the Armistice, has control of the local authorities, no reference is made in the Armistice to other authorities residing beyond the territory of occupation. He could not grant the request made him but had to continue in dealing only with the local authorities. It is also reported that the same committee has forced officials in Spalato to take the allegiance oath, justifying such action with the authority derived by the fact that it was recognized by the powers. Magistrates and other employees of Italian nationality who, deferring to the decisions of the Peace Conference, refused until then to submit to take the oath, have been because of this resistance declared deposed and a disadvantageous settlement of their rights to pensions has been imposed upon them. It is expected that arbitrary measures of the same kind will be taken against local officials of other classes. Your Excellency cannot fail to see the illegality of such actions on the part of the Jugo-Slav Committee which cannot, not even when it is question of zones lying beyond the line of Armistice, perform acts in contrast with the manifest situation there existent as Spalato is occupied by the Allies and America. It behooves the Associated Governments to cause a conduct to prevail there based on the principle that the occupying military authority has not the right (excepting for all essential exigencies of military character or of public order) to consent to any modification to the instructions and laws in force. While asking me to bring what precedes to Your Excellency’s knowledge the Royal Government expresses the desire that instructions inspired by the same principles be also imparted by the United States Government to their military and naval authorities in the Adriatic.”
Italian Chargé d’Affaires added orally that French officer in command at Albania had reported that Italian delegates had been called to establish government, and intimated that the Italians were parties to it. The Italians said they had never called such a meeting and feared trouble would result. Baron Sonnino was anxious the United States should know they were not at fault in case of trouble. Chargé also said there was trouble in Southern Albania. He wanted to know what we knew about the Serbs occupying Banat. He was informed that all those questions should be settled in Paris.