The Washington times., 1934-02-22
BALKANS WAN 7
PEACE, RULER
DECLARES
Alexander ! RapS MusSoIinl
And His Attempts to Boss
Affairs of Continent

e1ceS-not the Balkan countries
themSelUeS-lUiU be responsible it
there is another European tO1r,
King Alexander / of JugOSlGUiG
tells II. r. Knickerbocker. In
the tenth article of his series on
"WiH War Gomez" Knickerbocker
presents the Die,O of the Jugo-
SlGUidn monarch. Dhom he terms
BOSS of the BGlkGnS.")
BY H. R. KNICKERBOCKER
International News Service Staff
Correspondent
Copyright. 1884. by International News
Service. Reproduction in Whole or Part
Forbidden
DEDINJE, Jugoslavia, Feb. %.
Monarch of Jugoslavia, comman-
der of 2,25O,OOO trained reserves,
King Alexander I is boss of the
Balkans. He is the one king in
the western world who is mon
arch and master both He is the
dictator.
The Serbs know more about
war than any other people in
Europe. On the question will
War Come in Europe?" the opin-
ion of their sovereign, descend
ant of Kara-George, Black George
Petrovitch who raised the first
Serbian revolt against Turkish
rule a century ago, ought to be
valuable.
The King receives in a bright
room, wide-windowed. Whi t e
plumes of a huge sheaf of lilacs
nod on the left.
L Spare Figure
He gives a strong quick grip.
Khaki uniform, with the broad
red stripe of the general staff
down the side of the side of
the cavalry trousers, no decora-
tions, no color except the blue
velvet collar and gol. epauletteS
with royal insignia.
He offered cigarettes. lit a
match, insisted on giving the
light, sat forward, and began to
ask questions. There are two
kinds of interviewees. One talks;
the other listens. Opinions from
the latter. though spare, are
usually the more worth noting.
He reflected:
''War? There is no posi-
bility of war breaking out in
the Balkans. For decades Eu-
rope has declared that the
Balkans were the center of
trouble on the Continent. This
never was true as long as the
Balkans were let alone by the
great powers, and it is par
ticularly and most positively
not true today.
"NO, there is no chance of war
in the Balkans themselves. But
unfortunately there are certain
influences from outside which
as Of old, are working to keep
the Balkans in a state of unrest
and to hinder our common un.
derstanding. 1t is absolutely
essential that the Balkans be
left free of foreign influences be-
cause only when they are left
alone can they realize their
peoples genuine desire for peace
and contribute to the necessities
of peace in Europe. If the great
powers would only let the BaIk-
ans alone we would never have
0 shadow of trouble"
Too Much Meddling
King Alexander said:
Certain statesmen are con-
Stantly trying to mediate be-
tween other states under the
pretense of serving the cause of
peace, but as a matter of fact
all they are trying to do is to
win something for themselves.
The only effective way nations
can reach understanding is by
direct negotiations, without
mediatOrs. and especially with
out such mediatOrs."
The King underlined "such."
"Certain statesmen, also, con-
stantly reiterate they want re-
vision of the treaties in order to
prevent war. This is absolutely
false. The contrary is true to-
day"
do you believe, your Ma jeSty,
that the revisiOniStS would be
satisfied and not ask for more
If they were to receive the con-
cessions they demand today and
which they declare are all they
want?"
The King smiled.
"NO!"
He clipped the word.
Certain circles, your Majesty,
appear to be counting upon
what they describe as the in
ternal difficulties of the JugO-
SlaVS."
THEY ARE READY
"These circles will be deeply
disappointed if the occasion
should ever come to demon
Strate the unity and loyalty of
our nation. That sort of talk
Is false and futile. You may
remember that the same sort of
talk about weak Serbia was
popular before the war, but his
tory has shown how fatally
false that sort of hostile propa-
ganda was. We in JugOslaviS>
are fully ready for any eventu-
atty"