The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-06
CALUMNIES FROM VIENNA
CIRCULATED ABOUT THE KING AND
QUEEN OF sERvIA.
for Scandal" Seems to Have
It's Headquarters In A~ustria-In-
tervfew with Queen Draga.
Paris Cable to New York Herald.

Il Il NoblC " Y III
Your European edition will publish to-
morrow four interviews bound TO attract
universal attention. They have been OBJ
tanned by a special correspondent with
King Alexander Of Servia. Queen Draga.
DR.. Vonich. the Servian minister of foreign
affairs. and DR.. Milovanovitch, minister OF
agriculture.
The King received your correspondent in
the palace, in Belgrade. and gave a cate
gorical denial to the rumors so Industrious
ly circulated by the Viennese press TO the
effect that his Majesty was DESTROYS of alb
dicating.
"Miloch Obrenovitch," he said, was fond
of using Servian proverbs. There are three
things a man should never abandon-his
wife. power and a good horse. 1 heartily
indorse the proverb.
"You may declare on my behalf that all
rumors concerning my abdication or that
there exists any agitation in my country
In reference to a successor to the throne
are absolutely false. and can only come
from systematic enemies OF my dynasty or
from people whose brains are deranged.
Such rumors are totally fantastic, just
as probable as would be a report that l ate
husman flesh, or that the people in the
streets Of Belgrade had wings"
His Majesty Indignantly protested against
the malevolent and indecent campaign con-
Quoted against him, in which the Queens
name and personality had been used In a
revolving manner.
He remarked airily that there was moth
ing -extravagant in the belief that a man of
his age, twenty-five years, might still be
the father of an heir TO the throne. He re-
ferred to the Queen with devoted tender
ness, and said:
"All reports concerning the succession
and L say it openly to all the world-are
worked up by the late minister and presi-
dent of the Council NJ. Walden Georgevitch,
who many times before my marriage had
discussed the question with me. NJ. Walden
GeorgeVitch is now banished from Servia
and lives in Vienna.
He has written and distributed many ar
ticles on the subject. and he is all the
while hand in glove with the karageorgie-
Witch p~retender's family"
King Alexander wound up the interview
by declaring: Should my throne be men
aced l will defend II. sword in hand, at the
head of my faithful army. acting in a man
ner BETTING the grandson OF the creator OF
new Servia."
How stupid were the reports of internal
discord was shown in a recent journey L
and the Queen made through the country.
Everywhere L found expressions and dem
constructions of the most profound loyalty
to the dynasty from the people of Servia.
The financial condition OF my country Is
serious, but by no means hopeless
his Majesty explained mat the nnancldl
situation had been brought about by the
failure of a loan, owing 10 which the
revenue had been called upon to pay ex-
traordinary expenditure, but that all would
come right in three months.
OF the military situation he said: There
is neigther danger nor discomfort"
After leaving the King your correspondent
was received by Queen Draga, OF whom he
gives a sympathetic picture.
Her Majesty's declaration was more per-
scnal and emotional. She said:
al -. a. - n - 4
lions are abominable 1 could not
wish anything better to my dearest friends
than that they should enjoy as thorough
happiness in their married lives as We do.
The King is an affectionate King. There is
no cloud between u.s."
Her Majesty could with difficulty restrain
her tears when she spoke of the continuous
campaign of SANDER that has been carried
on since her marriage, and Of which she
has been a victim.
when the King married me-" she said.
II expected opposition. My success-my
entire happiness-was bound to make me
enemies. l know the world. i knew that
there would be thorns about that crown,
and / was prepared. But what / do not
comprehend is the endless continuation Of
this campaign of ies-that this persecution
should be kept up so long. 1t is too bad"
DR.. Vonich gave the clew to the campaign
in a few words:
'When King Milan reigned," he said,
"Servia was governed in a manner so
~tyrannical that the press Of Europe, with
one notable exception, cried out against
the condition of things which he brought
about. That exception was the press of
Austria.
but to-day all that has changed. Radi-
calls and progressives have united together
as a fusionist party. A new and liberal rep
resentative government has been given to
this country. We have now al Upper and
a Lower House. Servia is being consoli-
dated politically and economically. and
placed on a basis of future prosperity.
"AH these reports. fabricated in Vienna
and circulated in the press OF other coun-
stries, tend to place this country most false
ly before the eyes of the world as In a con-
tinual condition of instability and disturb
ance."
AS for DR.. Milovanovitch, after describing
In encouraging terms the present situation
in Servia, he said: "Al we Servians ask Is
to be left alone. II you ask me, our sympa-
thies-for We are Slavs-are pro-Russian.
but we feel that Russia has larger inter
ests elsewhere. and has not time to pay
any attention 10 our aspirations. Thus all
we ask is to remain quiet. feeling sure that
when the right time comes Russia will re-
member our good conduct"