The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13
.SERV|AN PLOTTERS
SEEK FOR NEW king
Deposition of Peter Discussed
Without Any Attempt at
Secrecy in Belgrade.
DYNASTY is UNPOPULAR
Prince Arthur of Connaught
Openly Spoken Of as Sover-
cign's Probable Successor.
BELGRADE. Inn 70

BELGRADE, Jan. IL.
Preparations are being completed In
scrvia to compel the early abdication o,
King Peter.
The plot for his removal Is openly dis.
c,isscd In all circles, though the measures
to be adopted are known to only a few.
There is no longer n question as to
change of dynasty, ind tho only issue
now is the choice OF a successor.
The leaders of the movement are pro.
cecdlng with caution, to ascertain the
attitude of the army toward coup d'eta..
census of the officers has been secretly
obtained = course which had already
been taken last year-and 1t Is found that
50 per cent. of the officers are anti-regI.
eide Last year the percentage was 40.
feature of the situation Is that the
anti-regicides are unanimously opposed to
continuance of the present regime. This
mas been brought about by the reluctance
with which King Peter deprived the muir
derers of the late King and Queen of their
authority and by the severity with which
officers have been dealt with for anti-rcgI.
eide propaganda.
Unsatisfactory Monarch.
It is also now agreed by common CON
sent that Servia can hope for nothing
from King Peter. He is without strength
OF character and totally unified to ST,
on the throne OF n Balkan State.
The government itself is hardly taken
into account by the conspirators. NJ.
Pasitch, the Premier realizes the lincer.
tainty of his position. and manoeuvres as
far as possible as neutral.
He has no Influence with tho army ond
depends entirely on. his majority. which
he Is credited with holding together by
Tammany methods. When the couspira.
tors say the word, NJ. Pasitch and his
supporters Will disappear. from Office.
The crowd of ex-Mlnisters. too. what.
ever their former political action, are
ready TO unite In any measure 10 bring
about the overthrow of the government.
The ground having thus been prepared
the leaders Of the movement are directing
.heir attention 70 the selection OF "a strong
successor 10 the throne. Among tbs
names mentioned none is so popular as
that of Prince Arthur of Connaught /,
Is felt that II the country could be placed
under British Influence an end would be
put to the present intoierable condition
Of affairs.
There is second and smaller party lee
by NJ. VelkovItch. who would WELDON,
Prince George William. the eldest son O
the Duke OF Cumberland.
Views of Third Party.
A third party advocates a return to tn,
O5renovitch dynasty and favors the seiec
tIon OF Prince Mirko. the second son o
Prince Nicholas Of Montenegro. Primo,
Mrko has. however. only a small follow
Ing. for Serb ruler is not wanted, and
stranger is bound 10 come.
While there thus appears to be :. con
siderable divergence of opinion, all par
ties are agreed that change must taxi
place. There has already been an ex
change of views between the representa-
tiyes of each party. and 1t has been made
clear that there Will be no difficulty II
arriving at an agreement If prince wh,
has the backing of one Of the grea
houses OF Europe can be found to accep
the throne.