p. 9 | The Servian Matter

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 26.

The Servian Matter

Prince Peter Karageorgevitch has accepted the call to the throne of Servia, and has proceeded to the capital, escorted by a committee from the Servian Parliament. After the commission of the crime by which the way was opened for Prince Peter to take the throne of Servia, he expressed a determination to punish those who were implicated in the murder of the king and queen; but, since his selection by the Servian Parliament, the new king has weakened in his expressed purpose. The government is really in the hands of the military, and as the people have taken sides with the regicides, the king would find it impossible to retain his position if he attempted to punish those who made it possible for him to be king. On the other hand, the nations of the world are urging upon the king the necessity of punishing the guilty parties. He is thus between two fires. Only two nations have recognized the new government of Servia; namely, Austria and Russia; and both these nations have advised punishment of the murderers as the only proper course. France, Germany, England, and the United States are waiting to see what the new king will do in the matter, before recognizing his government. There has been some attempt in Servia to turn the monarchy into a republic; but the leaders of the army have control of the situation, and no republican propaganda is allowed. Further details of the assassination reveal an almost unexampled cruelty on the part of the murderers. It seems that the first reports were true—that the bodies of the king and queen were thrown out of an upper window to the ground after the assassins had mutilated the bodies.