Evening star., 1919-03-28
US. CONSTITUTION
JUGOSLAvS MODEL
Leaders of New Nation Ex-
pect to Improve Upon
American Instrument.
FOND OF THE "BIG Three"
BY HERBERT COREY.


BELGRADE. Serbia, February 2I
(by maiD D.-Jugoslavia is now work
ing under a provisional government
and a provisional constitution. 1t is
a sort of mutual consent affair When
the peace conference has made known
the precise limits of the Jugoslavia
to come an election will be held at
which delegates will be elected to
constitutional convention. Then or
ganization will follow in due form.
What will be the character of your
constitution I have asked Jugo-
slav leaders.
The result of that question was too
often that I went on the defensive.
The American Constitution has been
taken as model by the Jugoslavs,
but they believe the new instrument
will improve upon the one under
which the American republic func-
tions. They compared clause with
clause and asked me questions In
too many cases | was forced to ad-
nit that they knew far more about
our Constitution than ! do.
Real Affection for "Big Three
There is very real affection, l be-
lieve, for France and Great Britain
ard the United States in the hearts
af this old people which is finally on
the road to freedom. One sees Pres
ident Wilson's photographs every
where. His words are being con-
tinually quoted. One man of high
standing said:
- I, ,y,fA oil
trouble in Jugoslavia-which is not
to be anticipated fer q moment
President Wilson could calm it by
single statement, He is literally
wershiped by our people. who have
lenged for liberty during SO many
centuries and now believe they are
on the way to achieve it, largely be-
cause of him
Jugoslavia is to remain kingdom
under the Serbian royal house. but
kingdom Of the most democratic
sort. There is to be universal, direct
and secret suffrage. The great es-
tates owned by Austrian. Hungarian
and German proprietorS-there are no
others-will be divided, and the land
sold to the peasants. All interested
missions which will carry out this
work. The huge forests will be taken
over by the state, but the right to
pasturage and frewood is reserved
10 the peasants.
Absolute Religious Freedom.
There is to be compulsory education
and absolute freedom of religion.
Capital punishment for purely politi-
cal offenses will be prohibited; The
Rress is not to be censored except in
time of war and the freedom of as
semplaEe will be guaranteed It is
probable that the present artificial po-
iitical subdivisions VIII be apoflSned
so that hostile elements will not be
Croatia and the like; but the local
autonomy of towns, village and
counties will be assured
To Americans the most interesting
phase of the new constitution will be,
perhaps. the political organizatio of
house parliament. in which the mem
bers of the lower house are to be
elected. while the upper house is t.
be called the council of state. to
which the members will he chosen by
new plan. King and Parliament
shall each neminate thirty members
and from the list submitted by each
the other shall have the right to Sc
lect fifteen members.
Committee on Expenditures.
This council of state shall examine
all bills and is bound to render an
opinion upon each. and the members
may. If they choose. defend their opin-
ions on the floor of the house, but
they will have no vote In addition
to this committee of twelve shall
be elected from the full list of ca ndi-
dafes for the council of state pro-
posed by both king and commons
The members of this committee are
TO be irremovable and not pension
dr,t 10,
wise the expenditures of the new
state. 1t is fully realized that econ
omy and wisdom in money spending
is vitality necessary at the outset.
why a kingdom?' I asked.
~, The s,,fspiy tspiy vas that. that Jusoslays are
undertake full democracy. The
peasants knew and reverence the
name and authority of the king, but
they would feel no obligation Of obe- :
dience as yet to a president Serbia
proper d"n,s,e. is one & Of tie most ae%ofrs.,e
slavia which has hitherto been un-
der the power of Austria Hungary
has yet to be educated into full
democracy.
Judges to Be Protected.
After the Jusoslavs' experience with
the unfair and corrupt Austrian
courts there is a determination that
the courts of Jugoslavia shall be i'm
partial and free. Therefore, the
judges arc to be protected in their
positions by the constitutional pro-
vision that they can only be removed
upon their written consent, and shall
not be liable to pension until after
their siXtieth year, or their thirty
fifth of service.
1t is in many respects a most origi-
nal document, this Jugoslav constitu-
tion, which is now in process of MAX
ing. The thing about it which most
forcibly strikes an American Is the
man shall be safeguarded in every
possible way. There are to be no titles
in JuKoslavia, save that of the king.
Like yeu Americans, we shall In
sist that every man shall be POLITICAL
ly free and equal"
l.