Pitanje međunarodnog priznanja Kraljevine Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca
The International Recognition of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes

Summary/Abstract: It was after a prolonged and difficult struggle that after the armistice at the end of world war I the Yugoslavs achieved international recognition of their united new state — the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (SHS). France and Great Britain were ready to recognize the Kingdom of SHS, but because of their commitments arising out of the London Treaty they were unable to proclaim this recognition separately. Namely, their ally, Italy, had considerable territorial pretences towards the Eastern Adriatic coast which had been part of Austria—Hungary. Yugoslavia expected the support of the United States of America which were not tied by an alliance with Italy. However, President Wilson procrastinated and delayed recognition of the new state because he did not approve of the conditions under which the unification of Serbia and Montenegro had taken place. As the new state was getting more consolidated, USA did finally recognize the Kingdom of SHS early in February 1919. This moved other countries to follow suit. By agreeing that the official name of this state should be put into the draft of the peace agreement with Germany, it was by implication that France and Great Britain recognized the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes as a new state. This was made easier by the fact that the Italian delegation was absent from the Peace Conference for a short while. By signing the Peace Treaty with Germany on July 28. 1919. the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes became an internationally recognized state, although Italy resisted this until November 13, 1920. Having signed the Rapallo treaty on that day Italy too recognized the statehood of its Eastern Adriatic neighbour.

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