SUSRET SA KRALJEM – POSETA KRALJA PETRA II KARAĐORĐEVIĆA SEVERNOJ AMERICI I JUGOSLOVENSKI ISELJENICI
MEETING THE KING – VISIT OF KING PETAR II KARAĐORĐEVIĆ TO NORTH AMERICA AND THE YUGOSLAV ÉMIGRÉS

Summary/Abstract: Even though the visit of King Petar II to North America in mid-1942 was primarily aimed at ensuring US support for the military and political interests of the Yugoslav state, his stay included a meeting with the Yugoslav expatriate community. The meeting between the king and the Yugoslav émigrés, among other things, was expected to silence divisions and conflicts within the Yugoslav expatriate community. On the other hand, the intention was to boost mutual cooperation in favor of the old homeland. Even though the émigré press largely welcomed the king, the reality of the hostilities that pervaded this community could not be suppressed. Instead of sending an image of unity and togetherness, the meetings between the king and the expatriates said something more about the actual situation, which bore the signs of national as well as ideological divisions. The experience of this visit confirmed the connection of the expatriates to their country of origin, as well as their primary political and public position in accordance with the policies of their new homelands. It also proved once again that despite publicly visible words of support, national divisions remain unparalleled, followed by a turn towards national representatives and political leaders.

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