The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-16
Tho Coup Eta In servia.

What took place in Belgrade on Friday
was undoubtedly q coup detat. for 1t vlo-
lated a fundamental provision OF the Ser
Wan Constitution. to the effect that a rulers
minority shall not terminate until he Is
eighteen years old. Even the ex-King
MILAN showed himself moro observant OF
his country's organic law. for he did not
assume the functions Of royalty until he
was eighteen. although he had been pro-
claimed sovereign four years before. His
son. on the other hand. is not yet seven
teen: q fact clearly indicating that in the
overthrow Of the Regents and their Minis
ters he was a mere puppet Of his parents.
who rave lately been reconciled.
This coup d'etat means hat Servia. which
owes to Russia its existence as ar indepen-
dent kingdom. will for a time. at all events.
take orders from st. Petersburg and not
from Vienna. For about a dozen years the
Austrian diplomatists have succeeded in
detaching from the Gear the three chief
Balkan States. and in depriving him OF
even tho moral influence which was sup
posed to be assured to him by the
treaty OF Berlin. At Bucharest, partly
through the feeling that the sacrifices Of
Roumania in the last war against Turkey
had been i'll repaid. and partly owing to the
pressure silently exerted by the King. who
is a H~oHENZoLLERN. the pro-Austrian party
acquired power and kept it for n number Of
years. until recently the friends OF Russia.
who represent the ~preponderant sympathy
Of the people. regained their old ascend
ancy. The services Of Austria to the ex-
King Of Servia. while no reigned and even
since his abdication. have been notorious.
and until the Kaiser FRANCIS JOSEPH de-
clined to act any longer as the ex-king's
paymaster. they were not thrown away. 1t
was the Vienna Government which shielded
MILAN from the natural consequences OF
his disastrous defeat at the hands
Of ALEXANDER Of Bulgaria in a war
which lie had wantonly provoked. 1t
was Austrian protection which saved
him In 1883 from q formidable conspiracy
organized by Queen NATALIE. and which
was detected only or the very eve OF out
break. 1t was Austrian influence that pre-
vailed upon the Regents. upon MILAN's alb
dication In 1889. to covenant to pay him
S1.000. 900. the interest on which would. 1t
was thought. be adequate to his support.
That sum was quickly spent. and 1t Is
known that after various attempts to draw
more money from the Regents. MILAN ap-
piled directly to FRANCIS JOSEPH. who lent
or gave him considerable amounts from his
privy purse. The time came. however.
when the HAPsBURG Kaiser declined to
make any further advances on such dubious
security. Since this fact was brought home
to the mind Of MILAN there have occurred
two significant Incidents. A Russian bank
lent him. at the very low rate OF 81 per
cent. SGO0.O0 0 on property in Servia which
wal scarcely worth two-thirds Of the
amount. Then. at the beginning Of this
year. came his reconciliation with his wife.
the ex-Queen NATALIE. from whom he had
been divorced four years and a half ago.
1t lie well known that NATALIE is n daugh-
ter OF a Colonel Of the Russian Imperial
Guard. From the hour OF her arrival in
Belgrade she has been q strenuous and
persistent propaganda OF Russian iufu-
ence. When she was divorced and exiled,
1t looked as IL her game was lost. but sub
scquently. during the year and a half
which she was suffered to spend at Bel
grade. she seems to have recovered a part
OF the a~scendancy which a mother might
be expected to exert over her son. The
son. however. was fond OF his father also;
and consequently the statesmen who have
charge OF Russia 8 interests In tho BalkanS
deemed it expedient to effect at least an
ostensiblo accord between tho parents.
Both the ex-King and tho ex-Queen had
In the regular army. and their
temporary cooperation is proved by the
assent Of officers and soldiers
to the removal OF the Regents.
How long. the agreement of the young
Kings parents to act together will last. no
one can say. Much depends on the LIBERAL
ity with which the Golfers OF ex-King MILAN
are replenished. But for the moment 1t is
certain that HAPsBURd diplomacy has re-
ceived n serious check. That this view Is
OF the affair at Vienna Is shown by
the sharp fall in the Servian securities
are listed on the Stock Exchange OF
the Austrian capital.