Evening star., 1928-10-21
KING OF SERBS ATTEMPTS
TO UNIFY THREE FACTIONS
Alexander Has Not Yet Been Crowned.
Due 10 Expense, But He Holds
Balance of Power.

! grade. His favorite Summer dwelling
| Is in the castle Of Prince Windisch-
siaetz in Bled or Veldes, in Slovenia.
It Is beautiful mountain retreat. 1t
Is generally thought Prince Windisch-
gfaetz has never been compensated for
mis- seized castle 1t is said he was
not even permitted to remove his per-
sonsl belongings, the fortunes of war.
The Croats do not like it because the
King never lives in or near Zagreb
Why should he, while the union of
the Serbs. Crcats and Slovenes is being
achieved? King Alexander is Serb,
and he probably possesses the Serb
quality of knowing how to wait. He
Is only 49, and has time to wait.
Queen Marie, wife of King Alexander
and daughter of Queen Marie of Ru-
mania, is not understood in Jugoslavia
She is probably bored to death in Bel
grade. Not being a Slav. it Is diff1cult
for her to be popular Her two chill
dren. Peter, 5. and Tomislav, year
old. are enjoying all the popularity
One sees their pictures in homes and
Offices. They represent the coming
generation In which rests the hope of
united Jugoslavia Serbs, Croats and
Slovenes will die and Jugoslavs will
take their places
Besides the rivalry between Zagreb
and Belgrade. between the Croats and
the Serbs for political leadership, there
are some real differences which make
mutual understanding difficult. But
It Is hard to draw line between the
sentimental differences and the real
differences. The Serbs and the Croats
do not agree upon the facts.
For instance. there is the question
OF taxation. The Croats assert they
are assessed from two to three times as
much as the Serbs. 1t is further
claimed the Croats pay their taxes,
while the Serbs never pay anything
According to the Croats this was all
right during the three or four wears
following the war. while Serbia was
recovering, but now it is 10 years since
the war swept over Serbia. and the
Serbs should now also pay taxes
Admit Unequal Taxes.
The Serbs claim they are paying Just
as high taxes as the Croats and fur
thermore much of the rcparation money
received is being paid out in Croatia for
locomotives and public works The
probabilities are the Croats are being
taxed more heavily than are the Serbs,
for a law equalizing taxation is sup
posed to 60 into effect January. 1929.
That is virtually an admission that tax
alton has been unequal during 10 years.
The Croats claim also they are un-
fairly treated as regards representa-
ton. They claim the Serbs manipu-
late the elections so that they obtain
control Of the Skupshtina. This. it is
stated, is not done in Croatia. but in
Southern Serbia, in Bosnia, and in the
regions inhabited by the Magyars.
There probably is some truth in this.
Gendarmes certainly are important
adiuncts to sn election. That is why
the Crosts insisted upon neutral gov
ernment being formed to hold the new
elections. Because the Serbs refused to
Weld on this point the Croats and Serb
Democrats boycotted the Skupshtina
recently.
1t is also sore point with the Croats
that they are not given a proportional
number OF posts in government depart
ments. in the embassies and consulates.
and they claim thst they have but
per cent of the officers in the army.
They ask why the Serbs should be
officers and the Croats orderlies? The
Croats were considered very capable
officers in the Australian and Hun
garian armies. and the Australians and
the Hungarians did not discriminate
against them.
Hopes Are Not Fulfilled.
That probably Is the real cause of
the trouble between the Croats and the
Serbs. The Croats. who are sensitive
and proud. have had their sensibilities
deeply wounded by the Serbs. The
Croats thought they would and should
be received into the new state on a
basis of equality. each and all to have
equal rights and opportunities. Instead.
they feel themselves, rightly or wrongly.
relegated as second class citizens"
The Serbs do not take the Croats into
their confidence; they show distrust and
reserve: they carry on the internal and
foreign policy Of .Iugoslavia without
permitting the "Pretchani" to partici-
pate. The Croats say, We are ma
ton Of superior culture and traditions.
We are asked to submit to the rule of
an inferior people. We are treated as
conquered province"
This is not quite true: 1t is not the
question Of being ruled by a superior
or inferior branch of the .Jugoslav
family. 1t Ia more the rule of a DO
l1tical machine centering in Belgrade.
Many believe that the Croats should
take page from Belgrade's book and
by frmness and resolute energy seek
position Of equality. The Serbs
themselves will eventually see that
equality as the only principle for a
democratic people like the Jugcslavs.
Unless equality is granted and unity
achieved Jugoslavia will fall apart at
the first test.