USURPERS’ CLAIM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20569, 31 May 1941, Page 6

USURPERS’ CLAIM

YUGOSLAV DENIAL NEW CROATIAN STATE ITALIAN ANNEXATION ___ (Elcc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wirolssa.) Reed. 1 p.m. RUGBY, May 30. The following note has been pretexted to Britain by the Yugoslav Minister in London: “During solemnities which took place in Rome on May 18-19 it was proclaimed that the ‘independent Croatian State’ is transformed into an hereditary monarchy. At this occasion also agreements were signed ceding to Italy large parts of territory belonging to Yugoslavia. Other agreements.have been reached which represent the camouflaged am nexation * to Italy of the whole territory of the new created ‘Croatian’ State.

“All these decisions have been made by the same persons who assumed power as usurpers with the assistance of the enemy’s troops occupying Croatia and without any consultation ancl participation of the people whose vital rights and interests, unity and integrity, are by these decisions heavily affected. The Royal Yugoslav Government protests "against this new attack on the unity of the territory of the Yugoslavia State, as well as against the dismemberment of the Croatian people who continue in thenstruggle, through the legitimate representatives in the Royal Yugoslav Government) to maintain Croatian territory within the kingdom of Yugoslavia, recognising only Peter- II as the legitimate sovereign.”. '>■ - XT.-LY.