New-York tribune., 1903-06-12
PLOTS At BELGRADE.
ASSASSINATION Long Planned-Short
Reign for NezC Ruler Likely.

Especial to The New-Tork Tribune by French CaoeJ
Copyright: 1903: By The Tribune Association
London June ia prominent Servan now in
London tells me that plot was formed last oc-
tober for the assassination Of King Alexander
but was not carried out, since the government
at Belgrade received warning and adopted pre-
cautions The object Of the conspirators last
year was the substitution of Prince Peter Kara
georgevitch for the last of the Obrenovitch line,
and the support of the army was prearranged'
precisely as has been carried out in this weeks
plot. Ny informant gave the genealogy or the
Karag georgevitch family in detail, and showed
that the new King and his brother Arsene rep
resented the younger branch Of the descend
ants of the original Black George, the national
hero of Servia. The elder branch is headed by
Alexis and Bodijar Karageorgevitch. both living
in Paris, and the younger brother being
painter and a man of quiet literary tastes
There has been feud of long standing between
these two branches of the family. and the new
Kings powers are likely to be contested by
Alexis. who is a pretender with claims Of supe-
rior validity.
The new sovereign like his brother, Arsene IS
described by my informant as an 1nveterate
gambler and a man of Incorporate ha bits He Is
also man Of tinorous nature, unsuited for
playing a stirring part in Balkan affairs. his
wife. the Montenegrin Princess Zorka, received
ried and what was left of this fortune was
nlsced in trust for the benefit Of her children
when she died. These children are boys. and
have received a military education in Russian
military schools.
The new sovereign was once before proclaimed
king bv the lottery of assassination. but the
plot was thwarted by the energy Of the min
isters and there evidence of personal
completely in the violent death of the Servian
1-ia+Jy tn
for several years. and is strongly Russian in
svn7nathv He also stands we'll with Mon
tenesro and is a brother-in-aw of Helena.
Queen of Italy
This prominent Servian declined to discuss
the careers of King Alexander and Queen Draga,
whose conduct and characters had been unspeak-
ably scandalous. He predicted that the reign
of the new sovereign would be short II the
crown were accepted and might not last more
than a few months. There would be an imne-
diate acouiescence in the results of the military
revolution. but reaction against a sovereign
created hv the processes of assassination would
he inevitable He anticipated vigorous protests
bv both the Russian and Austrian governments
against the coup detat and assumed that the
military occupation of the country by one or the
other of those powers was not unlikely. Either
foreign occupation or civil seemed TO be
impending and dynastic changes ordered oy
assassins could not be permanent
The feuds between the Karageorgevitch and
Ohrenovitch dynasties have made up, with tha
adventitious aid OF Russian intrigue, large
norton of the recent history of Servia The
revolutionists have constantly used the name Of
Peter Kara georgevitch. either with or without
his authority as was done far back as 1862
and again in February, 1902. when a plot 20
overthrow King Alexander thwarted by
Russia.
Details of a fresh conspiracy to assassinat.
the King in November 1902 supplied
from secret sources. and correspond closely with
the scheme which has been carried into execu-
tion Several high officers were won over to the
,avolutionists' cause Their task was 70 keep
the troops passive while hired assassins wera
doing their bloody work. and prevent interfer-
once from other officers. The chosen assassins
we're civilians and trusted instruments of Kara
eAorgevitch. and the withdrawal of guards and
roiice at a critical moment arranged. The
proclamation of Karageorgevitch was expected
10 be followed by the formation of a provisional
government This plan, of which Servan min
listers received warning through NJ Miajatovich
now Servian Minister at London. was deferred
seven months and then carried out with few
changes of detail but with more bloodshed and
atrooity than originally contemplated by the
conspirators. l. N r.