The sun., 1903-06-12
SUSPENDED CONSTITUTION.
king Alexander's Actisn intensified the
Feeling Against Him.


King Aiexander's Aetisn intensified th'
Feeling Against Him.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE State De
partment recently received reports from
confidential sources in regard to the po
litical situation in Servia which threw som,
light on the conditions that have culmi
mated in the deaths of the King and th'
Queen. Two memoranda, Of particular in
terest, at this time, are as follows:
May IL, OS.-The Servian Constitution
now in force is that which was grantee
the country by King Alexander on April Q
1901. Under this Constitution the infiu
enoe OF the Radical party had gradually
increased to such an extent that the Kine
thought 1t was dangerous to the welfare
Of the country. For some time there were
rumors to the effect that a new Constitu'
ton was In contemplation and would proba'
bly, be put into force on the anniversary
OF its predecessor. More or less excite
ment was caused by these reports, and ir
consequence the King determined to act
at once.
1On the afternoon of March "a last a
royal proclamation was issued 10 the Ser
Wan people. explaining the Kings views
OF the situation. suspending the Constitu-
ton referred to above. annulling the ukase
Of April q. 1901, and all subsequent ukases,
relating to the election Of Senators, retir-
ing all the members Of the Council Of States,
dlssolving the Skupstchina national Cham
oer OF Deputies), annuling various laws
relating to the liberty of the press. the
election Of Deputies, DC, and putting into
force certain laws which had previously
been repealed.
"The next morning second proclamation
was issued, putting the same Constitution
in force again and directing the life Sena-
tors to elaborate provisional law for the
election Of Senators and Deputies, who
should hold office. respectively. until Sep
tember 1909 and May, 1907.
The date for the elections has been fixed
for the first part Of June. 1t is considered
probable that the Radical members Of the
Government -four Ministers, I believe) will
soon withdraw from the Cabinet"
April l3, i90s.--As he had done on pre-
vious occasions the King has recently, exc
Constitution Of April 9, 1901, ineffective.
and Diminishing, suspending or pensioning
many Of the persons holding Office there
under, putting the same Constitution into
force again, and starting afresh with lot
Of new appointments Among the changes
which have taken place is the retrement
Of the Minister Of Foreign Affairs, Mr..
Loeanitch, and have not yet been officially
informed as to who is to succeed him"
A local newspaper prints an interview
about the assassination credited to "A
man who used to be United States Minister
TO Greece and Servia and who now occu-
pies a high official position in this city"
presumably William ". Rockhll, director
of the Bureau Of the American Republics.
After saying that he had expected some
such outcome for months. the former Minis
ter 70 Serva is quoted as follows:
King Alexander was unpopular. not only
with his people. but with his Ministers.
remember a. banquet at which the King
TO rhe surprise OF everybody made
speech in English and proposed a toast
to the United States. After. l had re-
who was sitting beside me. and expressed
my surprise that the King could speak
English, as I had always conversed with
him in French. The Minister replied
Oh he doesn't understand a word. He
just repeats II like a pa riot
This, afterward discovered. was not
true. becanse talked with the King in
English; but It showed the contempt in
which he WAS held. even by his closest
advisers.
King Alexander was weak man intel
He was one of the ugiest men it has ever
been my fortune TO meet. But he was a
sort Of chap. knew Queen
Draga before they were married. She
was quiet. prepossessina woman, have
often had tea AZ her house. She was am
btious and Of great intellectual attain
ments A woman Of that sort could do
what she pleased with man
like rhe King.
AS to the political cffe ct OF the assassina-
ton of both the King and Queen cannot
say. have been too long away from
there TO he thoroughly acquainted with the
sit uation' and all Of it's ramifcatona, II
is apt TO bring up the entire so-called East
ern question. The most interesting and
'he most important question row is what
will Austria do?
Il understand that Prince Karageorge-
witch is strongly pro- Russian in his policy
while Alexander was anti-Russian ard
leaned more toward Austria and England.
II is hard to tell what the Powers will do
in view Of the present develop ments. They
may decide 70 do nothing and let events
take their course. Or it may result in the
Of Servia and it's division
between Bulgaria and Roumania,
incidentally. it might be remarked
that assassination is a regular political
institution in Bulgaria and serv!a.
John B. jackson, United States Minister
TO Greece. Roumania and Servia. left Athens
for Belgrade on Tuesday. according TO
telegram to the State Department from Mr..
Wilson. United States Charge d 'Afaires at
Athens. II ia supposed here that he had
intended to present his credentials 10 King