The Minneapolis journal., 1903-06-17
PETER TO HAVE LITTLE POWER
New King of Servla VIII Have Less Au.
thority Than American President

Inorlty Ihan American President
Belgrade, June 1.-THE position Of King
Peter l. promises to be little more than
that of a royal captive; the real govern
s1nent' will be military dictatorship un-
der the leaders of the revolution, Colonel
Maschin and Colonel Mitschitch. The new
king is almost without personal adherentS
and the ruling spirits Of the army would
no doubt just as readily murder him as
they did his predecessor should he op-
pose their aims.
AT the present moment the country is
under military. rule, and altho no prefacts
in the country districts have been re-
moved, each is accompanied by am army
officer wherever he goes. even to the tel
ephone. This policy has led to one good
result-not single case Of disorder has
been reported.
q Threatened an Editor.
Forcible arguments were found neces-
for a republic. The foremost advocate of
a republican form Of government was
Ljubomir Schickovics, editor of the Bel
grade Odjek. Finding him impervious to
arguments, the conspirators invited him
to a dinner at the officers club last satur-
day. In the course of the dinner his host
told him that unless he agreed to support
Prince Karag eorgevitch there would be
one head less in Belgrade that night. M
Schivkovics yielded to the force of this
reasoning and accepted the situation. He
is now minister Of justice in the new
government.
The deliberations Of the senate and
skupshtina were materially hastened by
the attendance Of Colonel Mitschitch. He
took no part in the proceedings, but his
presence was significant. Premier Ayaku-
movies declared that it was useless to talk
of a republic, as neither Russia nor Aus
tria, would permit it. He further argued
hot he ;k,,{;<
King Peter far less power than that en-
joyed by the president Of the United
States.
Delegation Loses Interest.
! In spite of the semi -official statements
| that the delegation Of the national assem-
| bly, chosen to offer the Crown to the new
| king, had already started, it is still here
| The government declares that the number
J OF its members, twenty four, would entail
too great travelling expenses. The real
reason Of the delay is that the government
found that some Of its members had been
adverse to King Peter. These sought the
opportunity to become reconciled to him
at the expense of the country. Now that
| the ministry has cut off their travelling ex-
penses their desire to make the journey
will be greatly diminished. and the dele
cation will probably consist of dozen
members at most
/ Inquiries in official circles elicit the as
surance that the people are delighted with
the action of the government. but CONVEX
sations overheard in pubic places indi-
cate that the people, especially those liv-
ing outside the capital, know little and
lcare less about national politics.
! No further progress has been made in
the revision OF the constitution. Many OF
4 the better class aver that the present
i ministry is inclined to conservative ideas
land desires to protract deliberations on
the modification OF the constitution until
4 the arrival OF King Peter thus giving
i the new sovereign free hand This is
partly confirmed by the report Of a COM
lmittee of the chamber appointed to revise
1.-THE constitution, which had been instruct
led to produce an entirely new one. based
on the constitution Of 1888. The more lib