Document number ad Z. 89/Pr.BH. ex 1899.
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Novi Sad, January 14th, 1899.
As I have heard from reliable sources, agitators have already entered the political scene in Bosnia, and several signed complaints have been sent to the Russian envoy in Vienna from certain social institutions.
In these complaints, the Bosniaks complain that the Austro-Hungarian government not only deprives them of their religion and their traditional customs but also exercises civil violence, solely out of spite because Serbs do not want to renounce their nationality and because they demand the right to autonomy for their church and school.
Additionally, it was recently communicated to these Bosniaks that the Russian envoy sent these complaints to Muraviev in St. Petersburg.
I know this for certain, but on the other hand, I have also heard that the same complaints were allegedly sent to the Sultan in Constantinople. Whether this is true, I cannot confirm.
In addition, the fact is that political institutions are forcing representatives of certain church municipalities to sign petitions intended to send Metropolitan Mandić to Constantinople in order to dissuade the Ecumenical Patriarch from believing that the latest accusations made in the Bosnian memorandum against Bosnian bishops and the Bosnian government are immaterial.
How many municipalities have signed this petition is unknown to my trusted source, but on the contrary, they confidently claim that not only representatives of the citizens but also clergy members have refused to give their signatures.
One of the most influential and active agitators in this sense is the exceptionally wealthy old merchant Jeftanović. It is almost unbelievable what transformations this man has undergone, who, as is widely known, was the greatest supporter of the occupation.
I know that man because I have encountered him multiple times at the then Patriarch Anđelić’s, and I remember very well how he once, in a very drastic way, demonstrated to Anđelić the sufferings of the Serbs under Turkish rule while simultaneously emphasising how fortunate it was that this rule had finally come to an end, as he could now turn to his work without hindrance and with success. Jeftanović was then conducting propaganda for the patriarchal newspapers, doing so in such a way that 360 Serbian and 58 Turkish subscribers in Bosnia and Herzegovina received those newspapers.
During the wedding of the most holy Crown Prince Rudolf in Vienna, a Bosnian delegation was present, and on that occasion, they introduced themselves to Anđelić, who was also in Vienna at the same time.
Anđelić, who was still an administrator of the Patriarchate at that time, reported this in writing to his friends in Novi Sad. In that letter, which still exists today, he states that this Jeftanović brought an entire Bosnian delegation to his hotel and in front of everyone advised Anđelić to influence the Serbian King to ensure that the Serbian-Bosnian church would be freed from the Greek Phanariotes and joined with the Serbian Patriarchate.
Now we see how this Jeftanović is playing a different role. I believe that Kállay did not know those people at all and was not concerned with them in any way.
This Jeftanović should be withdrawn by any means because, if that man – who of course can easily be won over again without money – stops agitating in Bosnia today, then the country will surely be at peace. A single attempt would confirm it!!
In public, he is called “the master” because he gives large amounts of his own money for everything that is in public service as well as for the agitation itself.Back then Jeftanović refused to even hear about Zastava or Branik; he couldn’t stand newspapers from that party anywhere near him, yet now he is entangled in its web. After the hunts in Bosnia, a remarkably large number of people from there are coming to Novi Sad. Yesterday and the day before, there were once again two Bosnians here who are friends with the local radicals, mostly with Dr. Gavrilo, while two other Bosnians went to Karlovac; and as soon as such people appear, the next day regularly sees attacks directed against the Bosnian Government published in these Serbian newspapers.
These people register as wholesalers. Amid the current confusion prevailing in this country, almost no one cares about them. I frequently check personally whether these people are registered in the residency office.
Translated by Books of Jeremiah
