The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
PETER OF SERVIA, IN HEARTFELT TERMS,
 CONVEYS THANKS TO
 THE UNITED STATES
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 stood in America what it is all about that almost entire Europe is at war. But will tell you In word. It is the supreme, the last effort of feudalism, a fight to a finish between the feudalism of yester- day and the freedom of tomorrow So that is why war had to break out on the banks of the Danube. and not else where, for the Danube separates by so little the most intransigeant feudalisln maintained by unworthy intrigues, like those of the smaller Italian states in the middle ages, from the most stubborn ideal of liberty, implanted in those ready to fight to the last man to realize that ideal
 ALWAYS WANTED PEACE
 Yet we have always wanted to live at peace with the Austrians. Their way has not been our way, but we Serbs are like you Americans; it is part of our creed to live on good terms with our neighbors. Often I have looked from my windows in Belgrade at the fields and mountains of Austria and have said to myself: Now is it pos- sible that we should not be able to live and let live as between neigh bors?
 But it is of the very nature of a feudal state that liberty cannot and must not flourish in the same vicin- ity and Austria arranged all that in the time of the Obrenovitohes Servfa was made merely a tributary to Aus tria She was no longer free at all. By the treaty of 1881 she renounced all her rights. Today again Austria still seeks to follow toward Servia crushed the same policy as before-to create of Servia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Her zegovina an empire of vassal states for the benefit of a mediaeval feudal nobility But we cannot stand that. We are peasants, but free peasants.
 q am King. I come from the people, but heroic people who preferred bit ter death to comfortable, shameful slavery My grandfather was a peas- ant and I am prouder of that than of my throne. Crowns are lost but the pure, clean blood of those who have lived of the earth does not die out!
 "As for Bulgaria." King Peter went on, i've have proved that we have no rancor against the soldiers who fought side by side with us for the liberty of the Balkans. We accepted that we make enormous sacrifices that they should remain our friends. They did not so will. The obsession of Bal l1anic hegemony pursues them, Yet, de- spite everything I say even now with all my heart: Let the Bulgarians live in tranquility at home. There is place enough for all in the Balkans. All that is required is little good will'"
 And Greece, your majesty?"
 NO APPROACH FOR GREECE For awhile the King did not answer, seeming unwilling to touch on this subject
 "As for our ally, Greece" he replied at length, "she has understood different ly from us. Her interests are in the Balkans but, outside of her refusal to participate in the war shoulder to shoulder with us, she has in other re- spects fulfilled the duties of friend and neighbor. Today we are the guests of the Greek people and we are grateful for their hospitality"
 The old man fell silent. Evidently the effort to talk had been severe strain. The doctor made a sign to the correspondent, but King Peter felt it and gathered strength for final word
 With single gesture he brushed away tenderly the restraining touch of an aide de camp. He bent forward his broad, square, short fingered peas ant hands, clenched to strike sharply 1 the arms of the chair in emphasis, and shouted the words:
 l 'T believe in the liberty of Servia as I believe in God. It was the dream of my youth. It was for that I fought throughout my manhood. It has be come the faith of the twilight of my life, I only live to see Servia free pray God to let me live until the day of the redemption of my people. That | day I am ready to die if the Lord wills I have struggled great deal in my life and am tired, bruised and broker from it."
 The King without country drew UT 1 his frail, pain-twisted body to mill tary rigidity: But I am gathering my i strength he cried again. to marcl l once more at the head of my men, shar 1 ing their trials and sufferings as | did 42 years ago in Bosnia I will see I shall see triumph. 1 shall not die be- fore the victory of my fatherland,r