Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-08
PRESIDENT WILSON
MONTENEGRO HOPE
ExiIed King Looks Forward
to Nations Safe and inde-
pendent Future.
By the Associated Press.

PARIS, November 7.-Montenegro
looks to President Wilson to obtain
for it q safe and Independent future
the exiled King Nichalos told the As
ISOLATED Press today, in discussing the
future Of his country, now that 1t Is
being cleared Of the enemy. The king
said that he hoped Montenegro would
become a part Of the new state OF
Jugoslavia.
King Nicholas. who fed from his
country when it was invaded and
overrun by the Austrians in the win
ter Of 1856, said he intended to re-
turn to his little kingdom as soon as
it can be arranged. He appeared
greatly distressed by reports of lack
of food and other conditions in Mon
| tenegro.
The king showed the correspondent
telegram of appreciation and thanks
from President Wilson in answer to
one that the king had sent the Presl-
dent.
"The Montenegrin people," the king
said, put their trust in President
Wilson to secure for them safe ana
Independent future"
King Nicholas Proclamation.
Asked what form the political fu-
ture of Montenegro would take, the
king handed the correspondent a
proclamation which he had just issued
to the Montenegrin people, reading IN
part:
brothers! With the liveliest and
most enjoyous enthusiasm, sure OF the
appreciation of my faithful people, l
soiemnly declare that my dear Mon
tenegro should become constituent
part of Jugoslavia and enter IN the
Jugoslav community frankly and hon
estly, as it has struggled and suf-
fered for it. I desire that we unite
ourselves as brothers In a conreder-
ated Jugoslavia, in which each Will
retain it's rights, institutions, religion
and customs, and in which no one
where all will be equal"
Tribute to President Wilson.
Besides defining the political future
the proclamation pays the following
tribute to President Wilson:
Learning of the just and vtr1le re-
ply addressed by the great President
Of the United States to our secular
enemy, Austria, a response, which
sharply affirms the right to independ-
ence and union of the Jugoslavs. I
have felt profound joy that at last
justice is rendered our race, which
has suffered SO much"
The kings message concludes:
"SalutationS to our dear brother
Jugoslavs from their old and tried
and today happiest Jugoslav. the
King of Montenegro. Long live Presi-
dent Wilson! Long live the allies"
The proclamation is signed by King
Nicholas and countersigned by NJ.
Popovitch, the premier and foreign
minister; Finance Minister Vourvitch,
Minister of War Haidoukovitch and
Minister of Justice Chotch.
People Industrious and Strong.
my people are good people," con-
,inued the king. They are Industrious
and strong, but they have been treated
md miserable. One thousand of the
leading men have been driven from
the country by the invaders, and 1000
Of the nobility are prisoners in the
hands of the Austrfans. Consequently,
the Montenegrin people are without
leadership.
Enemy acquisitions have stripped
the country of animals, grain and all
food supplies. The men and women
have scarcely any clothing, and bed
clothes have been cut up for clothing.
Montenegro is in a state of partial
starvation and diseases are epidemic"
In conclusion, King Nicholas ex-
presses the hope that Montenegro can
be made attractive enough to recall
from America the thousands of Monte
negrins who have received hospitality
there.