Serbs from the Neretva Valley and the Cvetković–Maček Agreement of 1939 Cover Image

Срби из долине Неретве и споразум Цветковић–Мачек 1939. године
Serbs from the Neretva Valley and the Cvetković–Maček Agreement of 1939

Author(s): Draga V. Mastilović
Subject(s): Human Geography, Political history, Social history, Interwar Period (1920 - 1939)
Published by: Српска академија наука и уметности

Summary/Abstract: Following the introduction of the 6th January regime of King Aleksandar and the creation of banovinas in 1929, the Neretva valley became part of the Littoral Banovina with its seat in Split. As it was obvious that the Neretva valley was thus linked to the Banovina with the majority Croatian ethnic population, the Serbs from the Neretva valley already then expressed an open concern that they were left to the Croatian interest zone within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. With deputations to King Aleksandar, memoranda and reports, they tried to rectify such situation. However, their requests were not met, notably because such division of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was of a pure administrative nature and did not, at least at first sight, jeopardise state integrity. Nonetheless, ten years later, when negotiations began between the President of the Royal Government Dragiša Cvetković and leader of the Croatian opposition Vlatko Maček about the creation of the Banovina of Croatia and delimitation between the Serbs and Croats within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Serbs from the Neretva valley understood the entire harm of the decisions of the state leaders from 1929. This is why they tried anew, with one deputation and a memorandum, to fight for their right not to live within the Banovina of Croatia. Their later endeavours in this regard did not bear fruit either.