Metadata: Legation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Argentina – Buenos Aires
Collection
- Country:
- Serbia
- Holding institution:
- Archives of Yugoslavia
- Holding institution (official language):
- Архив Југославије (Arhiv Jugoslavije)
- Postal address:
- Vase Pelagića 33, 11000 Belgrade
- Phone number:
- (+381 11) 3690-252
- Web address:
- http://www.arhivyu.gov.rs
- Email:
- arhivyu@arhivyu.rs
- Reference number:
- AJ-385
- Title:
- Legation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Argentina – Buenos Aires
- Title (official language):
- Посланство Kраљевине Југославије у Аргентини – Буенос Аирес
- Creator/accumulator:
- Legation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Argentina (Buenos Aires)
- Date(s):
- 1928/1945
- Language:
- Serbian
- Spanish; Castilian
- English
- French
- Slovenian
- Extent:
- 3.05 linear metres (31 boxes, 20 volumes)
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- Good
- Scope and content:
-
The Legation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Argentina – Buenos Aires operated from 1928 to 1945 and the collection represents a valuable source for the political situation in the South American countries for that period. It comprises various registers of different offices, registers of issued passports, evidence of deposits, other documents such as reports of envoys and honorary consuls, important decisions of South American governments and statements of government officials.
An important part of the collection relates to Yugoslav immigrants in South America, anti-Yugoslav organisations and political groups formed by immigrants. In addition, there are various documents giving details on the situation in Yugoslavia before the war, on activities of the Yugoslav government during the war and on the situation in occupied Yugoslavia.
The collection contains information on Jewish refugees who arrived in South America via Italy and Portugal and the official positions of the South American governments towards Jews; on Yugoslav schools in South America and on Italian and Jewish schools in Argentina which had to be closed; press clippings from Jewish newspapers about the position of Jewish refugees from Germany in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia; the position of the Yugoslav government regarding Jewish refugees.
There are also documents with details on the political and economic situation in Yugoslavia during the war, as given in the testimonies of Jewish refugees in Argentina; the suffering of Jews in Yugoslavia; the situation of civilians in Jasenovac concentration camp. Yugoslav refugees in South America, mostly Jews from Italy, who came via Paraguay and Uruguay to Argentina; the arrival of the chief rabbi in Yugoslavia Isak Alkalaj in Argentina; support given to the refugees; difficulties in obtaining visas for South America; positions of governments in Argentina and Uruguay towards Jewish refugees; lists of refugees; Jewish refugees who returned to Yugoslavia by the end of 1944; a letter from David Azriel addressed to the Legation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Buenos Aires asking for assistance to unblock his account in a London bank in order to secure funds to rescue his family members from Europe; passport applications from Isak Alkalaj, Jakov Alkalaj and Safira Alkalaj; lists of Yugoslav refugees interned in Italy; list of 58 Yugoslav Jews refugees who had obtained visas for the Republic of Uruguay; a file on Rafael Uzijel, who was the main intermediary in the process of transferring Jewish refugees from Europe to South America, being accused of financial machinations, exploiting Jewish refugees, cooperation with Italian authorities and his work with representatives of the Red Cross; correspondence with Jews interned in Italy relating to documents required for visa applications in South American countries; lists of Jewish refugees in North America.
The collection also contains press and printed promotional material, including press clippings on the position of the Jews in Yugoslavia, immigration politics of Argentina and Uruguay, and the Yugoslav honorary consulate in Montevideo.
- Archival history:
- The collection was transferred by Federal Secretariat for Foreign Affairs on 29 March 1990.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Legation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Argentina – Buenos Aires began its mandate in 1928 as the only diplomatic representative of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Kingdom of Yugoslavia) in South America. From 1922 to 1928 the General Consulate represented the interests of the Kingdom of SCS. As the only diplomatic mission in such a large area with numerous emigrants, the mission performed specific tasks of other missions during the interwar period. A particular form of action was the continuous activities against anti-Yugoslav and anti-state organisations that developed a wide range of such activities. For many years, the Legation was the parent institution of a number of honorary consulates across South America. The Mission of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia ceased to exist in March 1945.
- Access points: locations:
- Argentina
- Buenos Aires
- Montevideo
- Uruguay
- Access points: persons/families:
- Alkalaj, Isak
- Alkalaj, Safir
- Uziel, Rafael
- System of arrangement:
- The collection was arranged following the principle of functions and activities of the creator. It was classified into two main groups – classified and general archives, and within these two groups further on: Argentina and other South American counties; Yugoslav emigration to South America; Anti-Yugoslav activities; Yugoslavia; international relations; protocol and decorations; press and propaganda; Consulate of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in South America; Legation in Buenos Aires. General archives: Argentina; commercial relations of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and South America; Yugoslavia; Miscellaneous; Press and propaganda; Legation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Buenos Aires.
- Finding aids:
- An inventory is available.
- Links to finding aids:
- http://www.arhivyu.gov.rs/
- Yerusha Network member:
- Historical Archives of Belgrade
- Author of the description:
- Dragana Mitrašinović; Historical Archives of Belgrade; 2019
