Evening star., 1919-02-23

Of his people.
That many of the ills of Montenegro
Serbia to appropriate the whole
Montenegrin country in violation of
all laws Of self-defnition and against
the wishes of the people is the charge
which King Nicholas has definitely
made He at least has won recogni-
ton in this. for the peace conferees
have decided that Montenegro shall
be represented in the. councils at
Paris, though Serbians have insisted
that they alone should decide
Montenegro's fate.
The charge also is openly made that
less imperialistic claims, has demand
ed that King Nicholas remain in
Paris and not return to lead his
people in. their fight to throw off
Serbian domination on pain of sever
ing diplomatic relations. Fearing this,
the old king from his humble abode
in Neuiliy in the best fashion he
can. directs the fight for national
rejuvenation.
King Discusses Position.
Montenegro's position was fully ex-
planned to me in an interview which
] have had with King Nicholas. He
said:
Montenegro is not only the small
also the smallest belligerent state, not
having more than half million of in
habitants Nevertheless it was the
first belligerent state to take its stand
against the central powers and in IA
vor of the just cause of Serbia,
Montenegro declared war on Austro-
Hungary on August 6. 1914. This is
what this participation consisted of;
it is summed up in the following
words addressed by my government
to the government of Serbia at that
critical moment: The rate OF Serbia
will be our fate
During the entire period of our
common campaign the Montenegrin
army constituted the left wing of the
Serbian army.S-It fought in Serbia and
under the walls of Sarajevo. the cap
ital Of Bosnia-HerZegoyina, and be-
fore the terrible forts of the Boucfes
de Cattaro. During the tragic retreat
of the Serbian army at the end of
1915 the Montenegrin army acquitted
itself brilliantly. During a struggle
of three months 1t succeeded in hold
ing back the army of Mackensen in
order to keep open passage for the
Serbian afmy. whose only way of re-
treat was thus insured through Mon
tenegro.
The deeds of Montenegro in this
war are in2omp mparably greater than
her limited means would lead one to
expect. But that should not surprise
those who know our glorious past.
is the only one of the
Balkan states that has succeeded in
its independence for six
It's history is one uninter-
rupted series of struggles for it's own
liberty and that of it's oppressed Jugo-
slav brothers. It is because their ex-
peditions were always costly that the
th<N
Black Mountain which had formerly
been called .Zeta.'
Realized Ancient Ideal.
with this last terrible war has
ended this heroic period of Monte
negro's history. It may be said that
It has flnaily realized its ancient
ideal, which was the liberation of
its oppressed brothers.
up to the present the sole mis-
sion which has devolyed on our coun-
try has been the defense against the
foreign enemies Of our race. Now it
IS the intellectual and economic do
main that we must work. The nat
ural wealth Of the country. still in
tact, as well asFt the remarkable phys
icai and intellectual capacity Of my
people prophesy for them brilliant
ana; other Balkan races- II has only
and eoutiuneus var that have re-
- S9esk 1lts situation An Monte
&D41ssnlk n eklx