The next step was the Serbian Legation in London, and thereafter Secretary General of the Yugoslav delegation to the peace negotiations in Paris.

[3] Edvard Beneš, the leading delegate of the newly proposed Czechoslovakia, held important conversations with Jevtić, and the two became friends.

His brother-in-law, General Petar Živković, was set-up as a strong man by royal decree, and together, they helped each other and the king rule the country.

In the rest of Europe unrest prevailed, and Yugoslavia needed an experienced man to conduct its foreign affairs.

The old hatred of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria was transferred into real friendship when the kings of these two countries kissed one another in a traditional Slavic embrace.

[citation needed] After Berlin had failed to break into southeastern Europe by way of Austria it tried to make headway in Belgrade.

If Yugoslavia had cut loose from its allies, breaking away from the Little Entente and approved the Austro-German Anschluss, it could have received a special zone of influence in Carinthia.

However, neither King Alexander nor Jevtić could be brought to that point of view while insecurity lingered with Hitler in Germany and Mussolini in Italy.

Jevtić, riding in the car behind the monarch, was the first to rush over to him and reportedly heard Alexander's dying words: "Preserve Yugoslavia!".

The assassination had been plotted by the Croat extremist Ante Pavelić and by Ivan Mihailov, the Bulgarian head of the IMRO (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation).

The expected reaction to the death of the unifying leader of Yugoslavia could have resulted in social disorder and political unrest.

A report of Alexander's alleged last words, "Preserve Yugoslavia", inspired patriotic fervour, which would ensure attempts to continue his political testament.

Prince Paul submitted to the fascist pressure and signed the Tripartite Pact in Vienna on 25 March 1941 but still hoped to still keep Yugoslavia out of the war.

[3] During and after World War II, Jevtić, in exile along with the rest of the ministers, continued to engage in activities against the Communists in Yugoslavia.