Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-05
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

wooden plows. Their religion-what
there Is of its ORTHODOX Greek"
The Croats have been under the In
fluence OF Hungarian civilization and
are farther developed in literacy and
industrial prosperity. While the Croats
pose as the Peasant-Democracy they
include many wealthy aristocratic
families. The Slovenes, too. have been
under modern European influences,
Both Croats and Slovenes are Catho-
lies. Civilization in Yugoslavia is
highest in the northern parts where
live the 100000 Slovenes and $780,
600 CroatS. rather than among the
100000 Serbs Of the south Thus
there are 100000 Slavs and some
1000, 900 mixed races. making a total
population of $4,000. 900. in an area Of
about $4,000 square miles-about the
size OF Minnesota, with a distribution
about equal to that of Pennsylvania
$50 per square mile.
x X
Yugoslavia borders along the east
coast of the Adriatic Sea. opposite Italy.
stoned by the opposition of the Croats
to certain treaty with Italy which the
Croats look upon as humiliating, in
that it gives Italians the right to &C
quire land along the Dalmatian coast
of the Adriatic Sea and 80 miles inland.
This invasion Of their sovereign terri
tory, by treaty with Mussolini. is fear
ed as "poking. of the head of the
camel into the tent" to be followed
by the animals getting in with all fours.
1t was the debate on ratification of
that treaty which led to the tragedy
and triple murder in the Chamber of
Deputies, last June 20. The treaty
ratification has been forced through
the Chamber recently. because the OPP
position has persistently absented all
members from participation in govern
ment so long as the present govern
ment retains power.
X X X X
DR.. Matchek. the present leader Of
the Croat Peasant party, since the
death Of the murdered Raditch, has
consented to undertake to form a new
cabinet. but he presents to King Alex
ander his choice Of three plans of
reform.
The first plan is to create a federated
kingdom with the provinces given home
rule
The second would divide the kingdom.
with Belgrade the capital of one di-
vision and Zagreb Of another Alexan-
der would remain King of the entire
country but each division would be
autonomous in its local affairs.
The third plan would be a three
part kingdom: Serbia, South Serbia and
Montenegro forming one part. Croatia.
Slovenia and Dalmatia second part,
and Bosnia. Volvodinia and Herze-
govina the third. Each division would
have autonomy and all would recog-
nize King Alexander as sovereign. with
a ministry controlling foreign affairs.
The ferocity of the Croats in their
determination to maintain their plans
Is demonstrated by the choice of
Vladimir Matchek as substitute Presi-
dent" while declaring that their actual
President remains Stefan Raditch, the
dead leader of the Croat-Democrats.
That means that the Croats, who
followed Raditchs funeral to the num-
Der of 800 900, and compelled all Croats
to wear mourning for him six weeks
thereafter, are going to keep alive his
principles as their inspiration. But his
doctrine was based upon peace, not rev.
olution. He always opposed violence.
For years preceding the World War
Austrian policies were based upon fo-
menting quarrels between the Serbs and
Croats, so as to weaken both tribes. What
their years of training in that direc-
ton will now influence In prejudices be-
tween the blood-relatives viii depend
largely upon the tact and wisdom OF
patriotism of the leaders, but the in
combat In the crisis now confronting
the three-part nation.
!. tConyright, 1879. By Paul v. Couins.l