Evening star., 1941-04-10
YugosIav Envoy Sees
Ultimate Victory for
Serbs With u. 5. Aid
His Nation Wus Invuded
In Cold Blood Fotitch
Soys in Press Club Talk
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

IN speech of defiance attack
ing the evil force which calls itself
National Socialism and its wicked
leadership" Constantin Fotitch, the
Yugoslay Minister, today stated his
assurance that the Serbian armies
would ultir ately gain victory be-
cause they can count on the ma
serial support of the great Ameri-
can democracy, which to them and
their allies represents the hope of
civilized mankind"
THE choice for any country is
a hard one" Mr. Fotitch said, but
for q small one desperately hard.
But the people made it. Having
made their choice, they will abide
by it, grimly. I hope, gentlemen,
you will understand me when l say
that I am here today as a proud
man, and not as one asking your
commiseration."
There seems little doubt that the
German government took the de-
cision to invade YugoSlayia in cold
blood and without any desire to
prevent war" Mr.. Fotitch said at
luncheon of the National Press Club.
1t was his first public speech since
the Balkan campaign opened.
Tried to Avoid Conflict.
"We we're willing to go a long
way to avoid this war" he said, and
then recited the diplomatic back
ground of the initiation of war be-
tween his country and the axis bel
ligerents. in order to prove his point.
Quoting from kilograms sent to
him from Belgrade by the YugoSlav
government, the Minister told the
club that when the regime of Regent
Prnc Paul, which signed the tri-
partiH pact in Vienna March 25,
had been displaced in a coup, the
Simovtch-King Peter government
which succeeded it informed the
German and Italian ministers in
Belgrade that it intended to remain
fGShful to the treaty.
The YugoSlav government never
received a reply to the note contain
ing this assurance. Mr.. Fotitch said
but we did not give up our efforts
to preserve peace" The Yugoslav
Minister in Berlin was instructed
to see Foreign Minister Ribbentrop
He made five trips to the foreign of
fee during the five days before the
attack, but could see nobody except
the chief of protocol, who handed
him his passports. Mr.. Fotitch said
Willing to Compromise.
-Four hours before Germany in
vaded YugoSlaVia," Mr.. Fotitch said
II spoke on the telephone with the
Prime Minister, Gen. Simovich, who
assured me that even at that late
moment the Government had not yet
lost all hope that its efforts to main
tain peace would be successful
I'VE were willing to accept COM
promises, we were willing TO make
concessions, we were ready to make
some sacrifices. But what no ma
ton can do and what no independ-
ent government worthy of the name
can do, is to sacrifice the national
honor for the sake of temporary
peace.
We may temporarily lose oul
lose our spirit of independence and
our inalienable right TO be inde-
pendent"
Denies Nazi Claims.
While the Germans were calling
the Simovich-Peter government "a
gang of ruffians," Mr.. Fotitch said
Italy, according to a telegram the
Minister received from Belgrade
April 3, "discreetly suggested trip
to Rome by Slobodan Jovanovich
our vice premier"
"Signor MusSolini." Mr.. Fotitch
observed, was willing, nay even
eager to negotiate with that band
of rufians.'"
The italian suggestion that Rome
might mediate the Belgrade Berlin
differences was never offered again
Mr.. Fotitch refuted German con-
tentionS that German nationals
were terrorized in Yugoslavia. He
said Germans suffered nothing
more than a few broken windows on
their homes and minor physical
attacks by irresponsible elements
and intoxicated persons" He also
denied Serbian oppression against
the CroatianS.
II can promise you" the Minister
said, that the Serbs, Croats and
the SloVenes will give good ac-
count of themselves. They may not
have the mechanical equipment
but they have the faith that they
are fighting for their homes, for
their churches and for their right to