Macedonian State-National Concepts and ... - Makedonika

several Balkan states to one another determined by friendly counsel along historically
established lines of allegiance and nationality; and international guarantees of the
political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan
states should be entered into.
The Macedonian émigré community in the United States, in its own right,
emerged as an important factor before the international public. These Macedonians
(“more than 100,000” people) organized “huge rallies” in Boston, Chicago, San
Francisco, New York and other large American cities, where they decided to
establish contacts with the General Council of the Macedonian Societies in
Switzerland, and to “authorize it to represent the interests of the whole nation”.
As a result, on April 7, 1919, the following telegram was sent to the General
Council, signed by a Central Committee member, Banev: “The Central Macedonian
Committee in the United States of America gives you unlimited authorization
to represent our cause before the Peace Conference in Paris.”
After rendering its programme even more precise, and following significant
personal changes inside the General Council itself — since in the meantime the
activity of the Bulgarian diplomatic office in Bern had intensified — the session
of the General Council on May 2, 1919 examined “the question of the possible
choice of a disinterested power for the protectorship of Macedonia”. Assessing
that France would be inappropriate in this matter (owing to “its alliance with Serbia
and Greece”), as also would be Italy (as “it undoubtedly favours the interests of
the Bulgarian government and pulls the land towards new political unrest”), the
Council concluded: “The huge emigration of Macedonians to America, where they
have been received as brothers, and this country’s disinterestedness in the Balkans,
make us unanimously put our choice on the United States of America as the
protecting power over independent Macedonia to secure our economic and political
freedom.”
In an attempt “not to offend the sensibilities of Great Britain, as it has always
shown concern over the Macedonian question, and as our land hopes [to find] a
good friend even in the British Parliament”, it was decided first to send a cable to
president Wilson and the Senate of the United States in Washington requesting
them “to accept the protectorship of Macedonia”, and “if America, owing to its
constitutional provisions, rejects this mandate, we would request Great Britain to
take in hand the destiny of unfortunate Macedonia”. Following this line, a cable
was also sent, on May 23, 1919, to the British Prime Minister, Lloyd George,
expressing the hope of the Macedonians that if the United States, “owing to the
provisions of its constitution”, could give an affirmative answer, he would support
their demand and “contribute to the just and righteous settlement of the Macedonian
problem with the establishment of an independent Macedonia, the only
radical solution which will lead to permanent peace in the Near East for all times”.
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