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Chronicles of Diplomacy

An historical overview of the United States' diplomatic representation in Yugoslavia, from its formation to dissolution. Explore the list of ambassadors and key historical context.

Historical Context 📜 Ambassador List 🏛️

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Historical Context

Formation of Yugoslavia

The nation of Yugoslavia was established on December 1, 1918, following the geopolitical realignments in Europe after World War I. Initially named the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, it was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. This state encompassed territories that now form Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and significant portions of Slovenia and Croatia. The United States formally recognized this new nation and appointed its first envoy on July 17, 1919.

Diplomatic Evolution

Prior to the establishment of a dedicated envoy to Yugoslavia, the U.S. had a minister plenipotentiary accredited to Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, residing in Bucharest. By the late 1930s, diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Washington were elevated from ministerial to ambassadorial status. During World War II, the Yugoslav government-in-exile operated from London and later Cairo, with U.S. ambassadors representing American interests in those locations. The embassy returned to Belgrade in 1945.

Shifting Identities and Recognition

Between 1943 and 1992, the nation underwent several name changes, including the Democratic Federative Yugoslavia, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Following the breakup of the SFRY in 1992, Serbia and Montenegro formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The U.S. initially withheld recognition, leading to the departure of the ambassador and the closure of the embassy in 1999. Recognition was re-established in 2001, and a new ambassador was commissioned. In 2003, the state union was renamed Serbia and Montenegro, with the U.S. ambassador continuing in that role.

Ambassadors to Yugoslavia

Diplomatic Representatives

The following table details the individuals who served as United States envoys and ambassadors to Yugoslavia, including their appointment dates, the presentation of credentials, and the termination of their mission. This list spans the various political entities that constituted Yugoslavia throughout its history.

Ambassadors of the United States to Yugoslavia
Name Title Appointed Presented credentials Terminated mission Notes
Henry Percival Dodge – Career FSO Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary July 17, 1919 October 5, 1919 March 21, 1926
John Dyneley Prince – Political appointee Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary February 23, 1926 May 5, 1926 August 31, 1932
Charles S. Wilson – Career FSO Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary August 3, 1933 September 11, 1933 July 28, 1937
Arthur Bliss Lane – Career FSO Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary August 9, 1937 October 23, 1937 May 17, 1941
Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. – Political appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary July 30, 1941 October 3, 1941 September 28, 1943 Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary September 1942
Lincoln MacVeagh – Political appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary November 12, 1943 December 9, 1943 March 11, 1944
Placeholder Icon Richard C. Patterson, Jr. – Political appointee September 21, 1944 November 17, 1944 October 25, 1946
Cavendish W. Cannon – Career FSO Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary April 10, 1947 July 14, 1947 October 19, 1949
Placeholder Icon George V. Allen – Career FSO October 27, 1949 January 25, 1950 March 11, 1953
Placeholder Icon James Williams Riddleberger – Career FSO July 31, 1953 November 16, 1953 January 11, 1958
Placeholder Icon Karl L. Rankin – Career FSO December 13, 1957 February 19, 1958 April 22, 1961
Placeholder Icon George F. Kennan – Career FSO March 7, 1961 May 16, 1961 July 28, 1963
Placeholder Icon Charles Burke Elbrick – Career FSO January 29, 1964 March 17, 1964 April 28, 1969
William K. Leonhart – Career FSO Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary May 1, 1969 June 30, 1969 October 18, 1971
Placeholder Icon Malcolm Toon – Career FSO October 7, 1971 October 23, 1971 March 11, 1975
Placeholder Icon Laurence H. Silberman - Political appointee May 8, 1975 May 26, 1975 December 26, 1976
Placeholder Icon Lawrence S. Eagleburger – Career FSO June 8, 1977 June 21, 1977 January 24, 1981
David Anderson – Career FSO Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary July 27, 1981 August 19, 1981 June 26, 1985
Placeholder Icon John Douglas Scanlan – Career FSO July 12, 1985 July 26, 1985 March 6, 1989
Placeholder Icon Warren Zimmermann – Career FSO July 11, 1988 March 21, 1989 May 16, 1992 The United States announced on May 21, 1992, that it would not recognize the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, comprising the republics of Serbia and Montenegro, as the successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Placeholder Icon Robert Rackmales Chargé d'affaires ad interim May 1992 N/A July 1993
Placeholder Icon Rudolf V. Perina Chargé d'affaires ad interim July 1993 N/A February 1996
Placeholder Icon Lawrence Butler Chargé d'affaires ad interim February 1996 N/A August 1996
Placeholder Icon Richard M. Miles Chargé d'affaires ad interim August 1996 N/A March 1999 The embassy was closed March 23, 1999. Miles and the last Embassy personnel left March 24, and NATO armed forces began military action against Serbia-Montenegro that evening.
Placeholder Icon William Dale Montgomery – Career FSO Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary November 26, 2001 January 4, 2002 February 29, 2004 The United States again recognized the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2001 and posted an ambassador to that nation.

Montgomery served as the final U.S. ambassador to a state designated as Yugoslavia. Subsequent ambassadors in Belgrade were commissioned to Serbia and Montenegro until 2006, and thereafter to Serbia.

Notes

Clarifications on Appointments

  • Dodge was commissioned to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.
  • Prince was commissioned to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes and continued to serve as ambassador after the nation was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
  • Wilson was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 15, 1934.
  • Wilson was commissioned to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
  • The king had fled Belgrade on April 14, 1941, in anticipation of a German invasion.
  • Biddle served near the Yugoslav government-in-exile in England.
  • Biddle was also commissioned to the governments-in-exile of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Poland; resident in London.
  • The government-in-exile of Yugoslavia transferred to Cairo on September 28, 1943.
  • MacVeagh served near the Yugoslav government-in-exile in Cairo.
  • MacVeagh was also commissioned to the government-in-exile of Greece; resident in Cairo.
  • The government-in-exile of Yugoslavia transferred back to England on March 11, 1944. On July 1, 1944, Rudolf E. Schoenfeld was designated Chargé d'Affaires ad interim near the Government of Yugoslavia established in England.
  • Patterson served near the government-in-exile in London. The U.S. Embassy was transferred back to Belgrade on March 31, 1945.
  • Rankin was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 29, 1968.
  • Leonhart was commissioned to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
  • Montgomery was originally commissioned to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and continued to serve after its name was changed to Serbia and Montenegro on February 4, 2003.

Related Topics

Historical Entities

  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Related U.S. Diplomatic Roles

  • United States Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • United States Ambassador to Croatia
  • United States Ambassador to Montenegro
  • United States Ambassador to North Macedonia
  • United States Ambassador to Serbia
  • United States Ambassador to Slovenia

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References

References

  1.  Prince was commissioned to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes and continued to serve as ambassador after the nation was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
  2.  Wilson was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 15, 1934.
  3.  Biddle was also commissioned to the governments-in-exile of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Poland; resident in London.
  4.  Patterson served near the government-in-exile in London. The U.S. Embassy was transferred back to Belgrade March 31, 1945.
  5.  Allen was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on February 2, 1950.
  6.  Rankin was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 29, 1968.
  7.  Montgomery was originally commissioned to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and continued to serve after its name was changed to Serbia and Montenegro on February 4, 2003.
A full list of references for this article are available at the List of ambassadors of the United States to Yugoslavia Wikipedia page

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