Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-09
SERBIAN GOVERNMENT
IS GOING BACK HOME
About to Quit Island of Corfu,
Where 1t Has Been Since
Early in War.

CORFU, Island OF Corfu.-The
Serbian government is preparing to
move its entire government establish
ment back to the Balkans, going first
to Saloniki and later to point on
Serbian soil near Monastir. The
Greek government has already grant
ed the request for the establishment
OF the Serbian administration at
Saloniki, and King Peter, Crown
Prince Alexander and several OF the
cabinet ministers are now installed
there.
There is much sentiment about this
shift of Serbia back to its native soil.
Since their tragic flight before the
invading hordes from the north king,
regent and government have found a
temporary asylum on this island
They have lived simply, and the
whole establishment has been located
IN modest building formerly used
IS hotel. The royal apartments and
the ministry of foreign affairs occu-
pied the first floor, while the finance,
Interior and other ministries were on
upper floors. The French military
authorities of the island have given
every aid and yet the Serbians have
rcnstantly longed to be back on their
own soil.
Little Government Property Left.
This shift of a government back
to the Balkans does not involve much
moving of government property, Tor
practically everything was lost in the
flight before the invader. The min
lister of foreign affairs, M. Paschitz
told the writer that all the foreign
archives were lost or abandoned dur
ing the exodus, and that not one OF
the old treaties or papers still eXlSts'
Even the precious secret treaty be
tween Serbia and Greece, on which
Serbia depended for united Balkan
action against the central powers
was lost in the whiSl of flight. So
that the foreign department has had
to begin all over again and piece to-
gether something like record OF
Serha's foreign relations.
The minister of finance was more
fortunate and managed to have most
of the financial archives. What was
of most importance, he saved the
government treasure, amounting to
several million dollars, which was
sent to Marseilles, and finally landed
in a Paris bank.
The minister of interior has al
ready gone on to Saloniki and Is lay
ing out the extensive work OF recon-
structing the new Serbia, for the
Serbs confidently look forward to re-
building up a new and greater state
The minister has outlined plans FOR
reconstructing the railways and
bridges, most of which has been
ruined by war operations, and for re-
building the towns and cities.
The minister of education is also
hard at work, trying to hold together
the scattered remnants of young ser
bia. Thousands of refuge Serb chill
gathered
France and England, and Serbian
professors have been provided for
them in order that Serb teaching and
tradition might be maintained, ana
the youth of Serbia preserved from
being swallowed up in the general
disaster which has overcome the
Z country.
American Loan Timely.
The American governments ad-
vance Of 100000 francs month, OF
6O,OOO,00O francs year, has come at
an opportune moment to permit ,lie
authorities here to carry on their
work of relief and reconstruction. All
government revenues had virtually
come to an end. There We're no re-
ceipts from customs or internal reVe
nue.. nothing from the government
postal and telegraph system. whlch
was in the hands of the enemy, no
property of any kind to tax, ana no
people capable of paying taxes. ana
SO the Americn help was essential
and came in the nick of time. All
the Serbian officials express their
deepest sense of gratitude for what
the United States has done Tor them,
both in this advance and in the vast
amount of private relief sent earlier
in the war.
II. Percival Dodge, the newly-ap-
pointed American diplomatic repre-
sentative TO the Serbian government,
has arrived with his family, and has
had his first audiences with the Of
ficials They are glad to have this
direct relation re-established with the
United States, and it was considered
so urgent that telegraphic negotia-
tons were opened with Mr.. Lansing
to bring 1t about.