Independence Hall, Philadelphia, October 26, 1918

On October 26, 1918, representatives of twelve subject nations of
Central and Eastern Europe — Czecho-Slovaks, Poles, Yugoslavs, Ukrainians,
Uhro-Rusyns, Lithuanians, Romanians, Italian Irredentists, Unredeemed
Greeks, Albanians, Zionists, and Armenians — met in convention at
Independence Hall in Philadelphia and signed a joint declaration of the
principles they held in common: government by consent of the governed,
the right of every people to its own form of government, open diplomacy,
and a league of nations to secure the peace.

Gregory Zatkovich signed as the representative of the Uhro-Rusyns — the
Rusyns of the former Kingdom of Hungary. Days later, on October 21, 1918,
he had already met with President Woodrow Wilson, who publicly recognized
the Uhro-Rusyns' claim to self-determination. The declaration's principles
fed directly into the events of the following year: an American Rusyn
plebiscite favoring federation with Czechoslovakia, the Treaty of
Saint-Germain-en-Laye's guarantee of autonomy for "Ruthene territory south
of the Carpathians," and Zatkovich's own appointment as the first Governor
of Sub-Carpathian Ruthenia. See the companion document, "The Tragic Tale of
Sub-Carpathian Ruthenia (Podkarpatska Rus')," for that fuller history.

DECLARATION OF COMMON AIMS OF THE INDEPENDENT MID-EUROPEAN NATIONS IN
CONVENTION ASSEMBLED AT INDEPENDENCE HALL, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ON OCTOBER TWENTY-SIXTH, ONE THOUSAND NINE
HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN.

We, representing together more than fifty million people constituting a
chain of nations lying between the Baltic, the Adriatic and the Black Seas,
comprising Czecho-Slovaks, Poles, Jugoslavs, Ukrainians, Uhro-Rusyns,
Lithuanians, Roumanians and Italian Irredentists, Unredeemed Greeks,
Albanians, Zionists and Armenians, wholly or partly subject to alien
domination, deeply appreciating the aid and assistance given our peoples by
the government and people of America and of the entente allies, on behalf
of ourselves and our brethren at home, do hereby solemnly declare that we
place our all — peoples and resources — at the disposal of our allies for
use against our common enemy, and in order that the whole world may know
what we deem are the essential and fundamental doctrines which shall be
embodied in the constitutions hereafter adopted by the peoples of our
respective independent nations, as well as the purpose which shall govern
our common and united action, we accept and subscribe to the following as
basic principles for all free peoples.

First. That all governments derive their just power from the consent of
the governed.

Second. That it is the inalienable right of every people to organize their
own government on such principles and in such form as they believe will
best promote their welfare, safety and happiness.

Third. That the free and natural development of the ideals of any state
should be allowed to pursue their normal and unhindered course unless such
course harms or threatens the common interest of all.

Fourth. That there should be no secret diplomacy, and all proposed treaties
and agreements between nations should be made in public — prior to their
adoption and ratification.

Fifth. That we believe our peoples, having kindred ideals and purposes,
should coordinate their efforts to insure the liberties of their individual
nations for the furtherance of their common welfare, provided such a union
contributes to the peace and welfare of the world.

Sixth. That there should be formed a league of the nations of the world in
a common and binding agreement for genuine and practical cooperation to
secure justice and therefore peace among nations.

In the course of our history, we have been subject to, and victims of
aggressive and selfish nations and autocratic dynasties, and held in
subjection by force of arms. We have suffered destruction of our cities,
violation of our homes and lands, and have maintained our ideals only by
stealth, and in spite of the tyranny of our oppressors. We have been
deprived of proper representation and fair trial. We have been denied the
right of free speech, and the right freely to assemble and petition for the
redress of our grievances. We have been denied free and friendly
intercourse with our sister states, and our men have been impressed in war
against their brothers and friends of kindred races.

The signers of this declaration, and representatives of other independent
peoples, who may subscribe their names hereunto, do hereby pledge on behalf
of their respective nations, that they will unitedly strive to the end that
these wrongs shall be righted, that the sufferings of the world war shall
not have been in vain, and that the principles here set forth shall be
incorporated in the organic laws of whatever governments our respective
peoples may hereafter establish.

Gregory Zatkovich signed as the fifth signature, representing the
Uhro-Rusyns.

Colophon

Text of the October 26, 1918 Declaration of Common Aims of the Independent
Mid-European Nations, reproduced from the Collections of the Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress. Captured 2026-08-05 from
http://www.carpatho-rusyn.org/fame/proc.htm ("Famous and Prominent Persons
of Rusyn Descent" section, Carpatho-Rusyn Knowledge Base), which credits
Gayle Harris for researching the material for that site. As a US government
document from 1918, the text is in the public domain. The closing note
identifying Gregory Zatkovich's position among the signatories is preserved
from the source page.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, with
AI-assisted research and preservation.

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