Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03
Disputed Statement

the Informative column OF
Constantine Brown. However,
I must, with regret. take ex-
ception to his approach to
events In Serbia concerning
the outbreak of World War I,
in his November is article,
entitled Another 100-Years-
Type Warp"
Commenting on the assassi-
nation Of Archduke Ferdinand,
he says: "The pistol was trig-
gered by Princip but the in
spiration to assassinate the
Austrian came from the Rus
sian Minister to Belgrade.
Baron Hartwig. He, ON orders
from st. Petersburg, encour-
aged and financed the terror
istic-nationalist organization
to which Princip belonged.
Hartwig was the kingpin in
Belgrade behind King Peter
and his cabinet. Serbia was
used by Czarist Russia as q
pretext to spark war with
Austria which became the
first portion Of the present
conflict. -"
AS Q close witness of these
events, I cannot agree that the
inspiration" to -assassinate
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
came from st. Petersburg, nor
let pass the statement that
Hartwig financed the terror
istic- nationalist organization
to which Princip belonged.
The imperial Russian gov
eminent not only did not want
war, but 1t was particularly
reluctant to the idea Of a war
with an Austria backed by
Germany. The government
was quite aware Of Russia's
political instability and her
lack of military equipment.
Mr.. Hartwig (not titled baron)
did his best to prevent Serbia
from being pushed into what
might have been a fatal war
with Austria, and used his
frien hip with the Prince
Regent Of Serbia. the future
King Alexander of Yugoslavia,
and Prime Minister Pashich to
ask them to be very cautious.
especially because of the mill
tary preparations Of the pow
erful northern neighbor, which
had been started before and
intensified after the treaty OF
Bucharest, which concluded
the Balkan Wars in 1913.
Moreover, MIR. Hartwig was
very Ill for some time before
the Sarajevo assassination and
was finally granted permission
from st. Petersburg to 60 to
Homburg, Germany. for treat
ment of his heart. He died
suddenly In the office Of the
Austro-Hungarian Minister at
Belgrade on July 10. 1914.
Temporarily, I assumed the
duties of my late chief.
Prince Regent Alexander
and Prime Minister Pashich
were worried by the situation
created by the Sarajevo muir
der, and repeatedly implored
the imperial Russian govern
ment to supply adequate equip
ment urgently needed for the
Serbian Army because Of its
total depletion after the ex-
hausting wars against Turkey
and Bulgaria. But the imperial
Russian government did not
comply with these requests,
which could have been inter-
preted as encouragement to
Serbia, until World War I had
broken out, leaving no hope
for a peaceful settlement. Even
when the rulers in Vienna were
ready to launch an attack
against Serbia, the imperial
Russian government advised
Serbia not to retaliate but to
entrust her fate to the great
powers interested in the con-
fiict. However, considering the
moment suitable for her, Ger
many issued an unacceptable
ultimatum to Russia, and thus
started World War I.
Basil de Strandman,
Former Charge d'Atfaires Of
the Imperial Russian Le-
CATION to Belgrade. Serbia,