CHAPTER III
Parties unanimous – A Servian Empire – A reasonable aspiration – A Balkan Confederation – Not necessarily offensive – A partition of Austria – The reversion of Macedonia- Austria the Balkan incubus- The Bosnian question – Hungarian policy – A question of pigs – Jews v. Slavs – Servia and Russia – Servia and Bulgaria – Servia and Montenegro – Servia and England .
WHATEVER the divisions may be in Servia upon the petty issues of internal politics , parties and politicians approach very near unanimity when their foreign policy is concerned . The keynote of this policy and the universal dream throughout the land is the restoration of the old Servian Empire – or , rather , the erection of a new Servian Empire with a population of twelve millions and a territory extending from the Julian Alps to the Ægean , from the Karpathians to the Adriatic . And this aspiration is shared , not only by every subject of King Alexander , but by every Outlander of Servian origin across the frontiers in Croatia , Slavonia , Hungary , Bosnia , Dalmatia , Macedonia , and even Bulgaria . Of course , there is no immediate prospect of any such consummation , but the ambition is by no means unreasonable . By any doctrine of political philosophy the whole district should be one country . It is divided only by different provincial names , by the most ordinary religious disputes , and by far less serious particularisms than those of Italy and Germany . The opposition of the Croats , with their Latin alphabet and Latin religion , is , despite its bitterness , quite possible of compromise ; and there is no gainsaying that they would be far better off under the rule of their Servian brethren than under the alien tyranny of Teutons , Hebrews , and Magyars . The all – important point to be remembered is that one selfsame language , whose dialects are as homogeneous as those of Yorkshire and Sussex , is spoken throughout the district . Some say that it will take a traveller even into Western Bulgaria , as far as Vidin and Sofia ; and that this territory should accordingly be , not Western Bulgaria , but Eastern Servia . Others , on the other hand , contend that pure Bulgarian is spoken at Pirot . As , however , there has been much intermarriage near the frontier , and the two languages resemble each other closely enough for Servians and Bulgarians to understand each other easily – more closely therefore than English and Dutch – it is not for a foreigner to decide .
The revival of the old Servian Empire is at best a dim and distant goal , but the first two stages towards it , the disruption of Austria and the formation of a Balkan Confederation , may be reached at any moment . Indeed , I am inclined to believe that something very like a Balkan Confederation has already been called into being . No doubt the various visits and projected visits of the Balkan Sovereigns may be mere acts of politeness , as Balkan statesmen delight to assure the world , but the voice of the man in the street proclaims the alliance with no uncertain sound , and we may be sure that , if it has not yet been signed , sealed and delivered , it has already found yet more permanent existence in the hearts of the people .
This confederation or alliance , call it what you will , has exercised men’s minds ever since the Treaty of Berlin . It has been advocated by such diversified statesmen as Gladstone , Tricoupis , Ristić and even Tisza , who , as a Hungarian , might have been certainly presumed to oppose it . The Albanians have long agitated for it , with a share in its councils and a political existence for themselves . Tricoupis made the tour of the various Balkan capitals in order to arrange the preliminaries , but Stambulov chose to explode the whole project by revealing it prematurely to the Sultan . Now , however , Stambulov is no longer there to oppose , and some statesmen are of opinion that even Turkey might conceivably be induced to accept a place in the confederacy .
Many superficial critics and the average critic of the Near East is as superficial as he is ignorant – are convinced that , if irreconcilable animosities exist anywhere , it is among the various statelets of the Balkan peninsula . But the sympathies and antipathies of countries are almost as short – lived as those of schoolgirls . Servia was sundered from her Montenegrin brethren by the marriage of a Karageorgević to a daughter of Prince Nicholas ; Bulgaria was anathema at Belgrade for her retrospect of Slivnitsa and her prospects in Macedonia ; Roumania was suspected as a mere outpost of the Triplice ; and the hand of Greece , jealous in her failures and ever cantankerous by her nature , was against every State . But lo ! all these antagonisms have collapsed like a house of cards . The Servian pretender , in losing his wife , loses also his father – in – law , who comes to the de facto King’s table and proclaims a Magna Servia and a blood brotherhood wherein the differences of centuries are buried . The Prince of Bulgaria , now become more Slav than the Slavs , is joyfully enrolled as a Slav ally . Slivnitsa was not in his time , and may be forgotten ; Macedonia has not yet come up for partition ; Roumania , too , has turned a friendly ear to recent overtures ; and Greece has received her happy despatch .
The advantages of a Balkan alliance are too obvious to be laboured at length . Suppose , for the sake of argument , that the pinchbeck Crusaders of Exeter Hall are right , and that Turkey is a sick man on his deathbed . It is all very well to say that the various heirs- presumptive have only to wait and be duly thankful for what they are about to receive . But if , when the Sick Man’s unconscionably long death – scene – longer even than that for which Charles II . thought it necessary to apologise is at last over , they are all at sixes and sevens , they may easily find that some stronger claimant , who has known his own mind for a long time , may step in and seize the spoils . If , on the other hand , they have come to terms , they present an united front which may not be sneezed at . Little Principalities and trumpery Powers are mere pawns when they are isolated ; but unite them all in one solid phalanx , and you queen them so that they may sweep the board . They have the advantage of being on the spot , and of having long paved the way to their ends by appeals to the sentiment of nationality . Nor do they need to play catspaw to Russia , who has nothing to give them either of her own or Mr. Barlow’s baking , and who , for the rest , seems to have transferred her aspirations to the Further East .
This is the great point , apart from all speculations as to the demise of the Turk , that the Balkan Confederation will be a power in Europe and independent equally of Russian ambition on the one hand and Austrian selfishness on the other . Moreover , the Balkan States form a natural entity – as well geographically , historically , and politically . They were united under the Byzantine Empire , and would have been under Dushan had he lived a few months longer .
I confess I see no reason for concluding , as nearly everyone has done , that a Balkan alliance would be necessarily offensive . In the first place , it would end or at least limit existing rivalries , and we should hear no more of such doctrines as the balance of power in the Balkans , which led to the fratricidal war between Servia and Bulgaria . As for a division of spoils , it should not be difficult to arrive at an understanding , particularly if I am right in foreseeing a partition of Austria , the real Sick Man of Europe , for whom no Balkan State is likely to don mourning . I myself hope that Austria may long be spared , for she has done good service in stemming the tide of Democracy . But facts must be faced , and they show that since Magenta and Sadowa she has been steadily disintegrating . Some wiseacre , who had not fathomed the impersonal solidarity of Islam , remarked recently that the Turkish Empire would live as long as and no longer than the present Emperor of Turkey . Of the Turkish Empire in Europe this is possible ; but of the Austrian Empire it seems certain . That unwieldy , incoherent monster ( informe ingens ) is only held together by the homely tact and half – contemptuous popularity of the Emperor Francis Joseph . When his hand shall no longer grasp the tiller , his Empire must drift straight upon the rocks . What rocks , it is premature to augur : but one theory , as good as another , is that Germany will snatch at Vienna ( where Baron Schönerer’s partisans are not extinct ) ; that Italy will monopolise the Adriatic ; and that Russia will extend her Polish fron-ier . Croatia would then rise , and Hungary sink , into Powers of the present Balkan calibre . Then would come the opportunity of the new alliance . Roumania might annex Transylvania and advance to Karansebes , if not to Temesvár ; Servia occupy Bosnia and Old Servia , and cross the Save as far as Neusatz ; Montenegro encroach upon the Sandjak of Novi – Bazar and perhaps the Herzegovina ; while Bulgaria might be rewarded for her acquiescence by the undisputed reversion of the rest of Macedonia and who knows ? – of Constantinople . Prince Ferdinand has been toasted before now as the Inheritor of Constantine . As for Greece – if , by any miracle , she still survived – she might rectify her frontier and , being conspicuously unable to govern herself , set to work to govern ungovernable Crete .
Of course , such remodelling of Europe is the purest speculation on my part , but at least it points in a plausible direction of eventual expansion . The great crux will undoubtedly be the reversion of Macedonia . At present the Servians claim it all as theirs , just as they claim Sofia and Vidin . But moderate men both in Servia and Bulgaria look upon a line drawn from the coast either east or west of Salonika as a reasonable frontier . The Servians propose the river Struma , and the Bulgarians the river Vardar . The vital object of both countries is to obtain an outlet on the Ægean , and the possession of Salonika is not essential to either . In any case , every tradition points to a Servian reversion of the district known as Old Servia and including Uskub , where Dushan was crowned Tsar ; Ipek , the ancient residence of Servian Patriarchs ; Dethani , where the Nemanides lie buried ; and Kosovo , the epic battlefield and hereditary watchword of the Servian race .
Historical and ethnographical claims to the reversion of Macedonia are so hopelessly confused that it is impossible to pronounce upon them . The Greeks adduce Philip of Macedon ; they might go further and claim Eastern Roumelia because he is believed to have founded Philippopolis . The Bulgarians can recall their empire in Macedonia from the tenth to the fourteenth century , while the Servians may remind us that it formed part of the empire of Dushan . The ethnography is even more questionable , for the Turkish statistics classify the inhabitants according to religion , while other authorities have evidently resorted to guess – work , and guessed according to the cases they desired to make out . The number of Slavs is variously stated at from 610,000 to 1,300,000 ; but whether they are Servians or Bulgarians is hotly disputed . The question of their language is even at issue , the Bulgarians and Servians each claiming the Macedonian dialects as akin to their own . Considering the similarity of Servian and Bulgarian , each contention remains perfectly plausible . In any case , however , nine- tenths of the village names are derived from Slav roots , and there seems very little doubt about the fact that the Slav element preponderates largely . The other races are variously estimated – 180,000 to 360,000 Turks , chiefly in the towns ; 58,000 to 300,000 Greeks , almost all on the coast ; 80,000 to 422,000 Tsintsars , of Roumanian origin ; sundry Albanians in the western districts ; besides gipsies and Spanish Jews in much the same proportion as in other parts of the Turkish Empire . Here the various conflicting elements are in a chronic state of intrigue , founding schools , disputing preferments , bribing officials and innkeepers , and maintaining small armies of spies and other emissaries , to make out a good case for the eventual reversion . Nearly all the development of Macedonia is ascribable to the interested amiability of her covetous neighbours .
The real enemy of unity in the Balkans is Austria , whose consistent policy it has been to play off the various little States against each other . She is fond of reminding the Servians of her claims upon their gratitude : how she contrived the abrogation of the Treaty of San Stefano at Berlin ; how Count Julius Andrássy obtained for them the province of Pirot ; how she brought about the elevation of their Principality to a Kingdom ; and , finally , saved them from the invading Bulgars . But each of these moves was designed to prevent the preponderance of any one State in the Balkans ; and at Berlin her diplomacy enriched herself , at the expense of legitimate Slav aspirations , with the Slav districts of Bosnia and Herzegovina . This acquisition , Count Goluchovski has told us , made Austria a Balkan State ; and there is very little concealment about Austrian designs upon Salonika , to which Bosnia and Herzegovina are intended as an avenue . Not long before the recent war the Austrian Minister at Athens said to the King of Greece , ‘ Do not trouble yourself about Crete ; that will be yours in any case . What you must aim at is to secure the reversion of Macedonia . ‘ Of course , Austria has no intention to allow Greece to secure that reversion ; but she feels that the more it is disputed , the better is the chance of laying hands upon it herself . The more disturbed the Balkans are , the better pleased is Austria , for she can point to her own exploits in Bosnia and pose accordingly as the only competent administrator .
All the English and most of the European press takes its inspirations from Vienna , the correspondents in the Balkans being all Austrians or Austrophil . Our view of Austrian rule in Bosnia is , therefore , almost exclusively through what may be called the Kállaydoscope ; we read nothing but eulogies of Herr von Kállay and the wonderful way in which he has developed a barbarous district into a civilised and prosperous province . I remember my first disillusion . I was chatting in the train with two Hungarian officers who had been lately quartered at Serajevo . Your country has evidently accomplished a marvellous work there , ‘ I remarked in all innocency ; ‘ you must all be very proud of Herr von Kállay’s success . ‘ They smiled somewhat grimly , and finally confided to me that there was another side to the shield . Roads , railways , commerce , public buildings , and so forth had undoubtedly been called into being ; but it was not for the profit of the people , who were poorer , more downtrodden , and more discontented since the occupation . It was a case of the outside of the cup and the platter : a few big speculators , Hebrews for the most part , had profited exceedingly , and the land had been rendered tolerable for tourists , but the people themselves could not call their souls their own , taxation and the cost of living had increased enormously , conscription had been enforced where it was not enforced before , and all the old landowners were gradually finding themselves obliged to sell their property and depart . I found this point of view universally endorsed at Belgrade . The Khodja there , a Servian by race , like all the Muhammadans of Bosnia and Herzegovina , and one universally respected and beloved , gave me many illustrations of the oppression to which his co – religionists and fellow – countrymen are subjected by the Austrians . The occupied provinces , he said , are in a state of siege . For instance , his sister at Mostar is refused her passports whenever she wishes to visit him at Belgrade ; and if she could escape the vigilance of the frontier authorities , she would never be allowed to return to her home .
Bishop Strossmayer said to M. Laveleye , ‘ If Vienna , or rather Pesth , means to govern the new provinces by Hungarians or Germans and for their profit , the Austrians will finish by being more hated than the Turks . ‘ And this is precisely what has happened . The Servians are constantly recapitulating their old grievances against their old masters , but they admit that their present policy is to keep on good terms with the Porte , if only to disconcert the menace of Austria . They are wise enough to recognise that they have now nothing to fear from Turkey , and that it would be foolish to discourage her present policy , which is to place all her most turbulent subjects in and near the Sandjak of Novi – Bazar , so that , should Austria ever try to take it , she would encounter even greater resistance than she did in Bosnia .
Nor has independent Servia any reason to love her big neighbour . Few people realise how completely Servia has been drawn into the commercial orbit of Austria , how entirely she is at her mercy , and what shameful advantage is taken of the fact . Over three- quarters of the trade of Servia is in the hands of Austria- Hungary ; and whenever she makes an attempt to emancipate herself , it is the latter Power who baffles her . The outlet through Austria is blocked by the simple process of imposing prohibitive rates . The Iron Gates and the Salonika railway are in Austrian hands , and hitherto every attempt to export by way of the Danube or the Ægean has been frustrated .
The position is even worse than this . For while Hungary , unquestionably the predominant partner of the Dual Monarchy , acquiesces in Austria monopolising Servian trade , she is anxious that it shall not be too freely developed . Austria being a manufacturing and Hungary an agricultural country , the latter is determined to have the call of the former’s market , and will tolerate no rival . Nor is this policy dictated merely by the commercial instincts of Austro – Hungarian Jews , but even more emphatically by the touchiness of Magyar chauvinism . The failure of the Budapest Exhibition in 1896 exasperated its promoters against Servia , who had held aloof from a raree – show where the Servian flag was exhibited in processions among the emblems of Austrian provinces . Knowing in her heart of hearts that her wonderful millennium was rank humbug – for as an independent State she is but a few decades old , and nothing particular occurred in her history in the year 896 – Hungary has allowed the slenderest criticism to lash her into fury , and has reckoned a deficient sympathy worse than the seven deadly sins . Servia , however , with no possible chord of sympathy for a country which coerces Servian Outlanders and habitually menaces Servia , might surely have been excused enthusiasm so long as her Government maintained a correct attitude . And this was maintained , almost to the extent of servility , by the predecessors of M. Novaković , when Servian commerce was the keynote of Servian policy – or , in other words , when the sole concern of Servia was , literally , to save her own bacon . Servia hated Hungary , but pigs must be sold ; and whenever there was a sign of restiveness , the holder of the silk purse pinched the sow’s ear . M. Novaković’s Government closed the period of servility , but , while dignified and patriotic , it was still conciliatory . The incident of the Hungarian flag in 1896 may be cited as a case in point . No sane or responsible person but a Magyar would have dreamed of holding a foreign Government responsible for the prank of a few students who beguiled a dull afternoon by burning some tricolour bunting . As a piece of civic disorder the Servian Government decided to punish it unasked . They even went the length of smoothing Magyar susceptibilities by an official apology and the removal of the Nachelnik who had winked at the incident . This was not enough for hotheads like M. Ferencz Kossuth , who clamoured for the resignation of M. Novaković and the personal humiliation of King Alexander ; but it satisfied Baron Bánffy for a while . Then the news leaked out that the deposed Nachelnik had been given another post which amounted virtually to promotion , and the tumult broke out afresh . But can it be contended seriously that the freak of a few young Servians confers upon Hungary the right to dictate the internal appointments of Servia ? Such arrogance would seem excessive in a Suzerain ; in a foreign and by no means friendly Power it does not fall short of impertinence and the absurd .
Thus the foreign politics of Servia always bring us back to a question of pigs . Perhaps the most popular act of the Novaković Ministry was the reconciliation effected with the hated Hungarians , because it meant the reopening of the frontier for Servian pigs . Out of a total of 255,802 pigs exported in 1894 , no less than 255,705 went to Austria – Hungary . And whenever political displeasure or commercial policy prompted the closing of the frontier , the process was simple . Swine- fever was declared to exist , and all expert inspection was refused . The reason for the last closing of the frontier was that the Hungarian Jews had a scheme for a corner in pigs . They were determined to have the whole pig trade in their hands , with centres at Budapest and Steinbruch . So long as the German frontier is closed against pigs , Hungary can supply the whole Empire ; but when the German frontier was reopened , it seemed wiser to admit Servian pigs again . If , however , Hungary should at any time deem it expedient to keep out Servian pigs again , the old process of imagining swine – fever will certainly be repeated . At the time of this recent reconciliation with Hungary , the Vienna and Budapest press put it down to the abject entreaties of the Novaković Cabinet and to the stamping – out of swine – fever . As a matter of fact , there had never been any serious disease , and the advances were made by Austria – Hungary .
The enmity of Hungary is also largely due to the ever – growing power of the Jews within her gates . The Jews detest all Slavs , because they resent the treatment of their co – religionists by the Tsar . In Austria the Jews have undue power , owing to the number of fancy franchises conferred upon the Chambers of Commerce , which are all in their hands . By this means 1,000,000 Jews have 70 representatives in the Austrian Parliament and 26,000,000 Christians only 280. The Hungarians also dislike the Slavs because Russia interfered to crush their rebellion in 1848. At that time , however , certain Servians , true to the policy of depending neither on Austria nor on Russia , sent a deputation to Kossuth offering to assist him . But he , whether from race-prejudice or dreams of subjugating all Servians to an Hungarian republic , sent them away , exclaiming with characteristic insolence , ‘ Who are ye ? On Magyar soil I only recognise nationalities who come to me sword in hand . ‘ This blunder he afterwards had occasion to regret .
As for Russia , a certain race – sympathy is cherished toward her in Servia , but it is recognised with satisfaction that she has failed finally in her schemes to absorb the Slav States of Europe . It was in furtherance of those schemes , by the way , that she selected Sofia for the capital of Bulgaria – an absurd choice for the seat of Bulgarian government merely , but admirable for the metropolis of a Balkan State in vassalage to Russia . But Bulgaria as well as Servia baffled the intention ; and , come what may , Servia is determined to work out her own destiny , placing independence first in her programme and then expansion . Moreover , the recollection of the Treaty of San Stefano is still an open wound to the Servian , who feels , almost as acutely as the Roumanian , that he was made a catspaw of Russia during the war . Then he saw a chance of the Greater Servia of his dreams , and he still grumbles that Bulgaria was not given to him instead of being erected into an independent State .
Perhaps the most important of the foreign relations of Servia are those which she cherishes with Bulgaria . I have already expressed my opinion that they are natural allies , and am convinced that Servia must recognise this before she can hope for expansion . Unfortunately this is by no means the general view in Servia as yet . Prince Ferdinand’s personal charm won him an affectionate reception when he visited Belgrade , but the existence of Bulgaria and the battle of Slivnitsa are still grievances to every Servian . In illustration of this feeling I may mention a significant incident which occurred when I was present at the slava1 of the 2nd Dragoons . After sundry songs and dances , the senior captain stepped forward and called out to the soldiers in stentorian tones , ‘ Who are the greatest enemies of the Servian nation ? ‘ The soldiers had evidently heard this conundrum before , for they did not hesitate an instant , but yelled with one breath , Bugari !2 The colonel agreed with me that this was a mistake , but said that hatred of Bulgaria was so deeply rooted in the hearts of the Servian people that brotherly feelings were out of the question .
Be this as it may , the facts remain that Bulgaria has made very rapid strides forward since her emancipation , and that Prince Ferdinand is one of the wisest statesmen of the age . That this has not been better understood in England is due to the fact that our diplomacy and journalism throughout the Near East are now always stage – managed by Vienna . Our Foreign Office has become a puppet , and our press an understudy , and we are content to bless or curse by rote at the prompting of the Austrian Balak . Yet a little reflection must show that , in order to be Russophobe , it is not necessary to be blindly Austrophil ; for the territorial jealousy of Russia is still as impotent as the commercial rivalry of Austria is now effective at our expense . Let a man but scan the import statistics of Bulgaria and Servia for the last dozen years , and he will no longer hesitate to proclaim that Austria has hustled England out of the field . Nor is there hope of retrieving the lost ground while British Consuls play at diplomacy and Austrian Consuls act as official bagmen , and our journals are content to serve up réchauffés of the Neue Freie Presse .
So long as M. Stambulov earned his Austrian subsidies by rendering any modus vivendi with Russia impossible , he was free as air to jerrymander the Sobranje , imprison and torture his political opponents , and grow rich by speculation . Austrian and British agents whispered words of encouragement ; the Austro- British press proclaimed him as the Maker of Bulgaria and the Bismarck of the Balkans . When Prince Ferdinand interpreted the feelings of his subjects and deposed the tyrant , the chorus felt qualms , but yet found praises for a Prince who was still at Russian arm’s – length . Then came the reconciliation with the Tsar and a complete transformation scene . White and black changed aspects , as from the negative to the positive of a photograph . Englishmen with ancient traditions of no – Popery and a religion in communion with Orthodoxy were suddenly found denouncing the conversion of Prince Boris with full Gladstone – Watson intemperance . Attempts to avenge tortured relatives had been put down persistently to the direct inspiration of perfidious Russia ; the responsibility of the accomplished crime was abruptly shifted to Bulgaria , and even to her patient Sovereign . The national finances were represented as verging on bankruptcy , though the loan was nearly at par . In the same way Servia had no sooner shaken off King Milan and Milanese Regents as mere Austrian outposts , than the full vials of denunciation were poured out upon her . No pretext was held too puerile . When floods interrupted the railway communications , this was solemnly alleged as a proof of incompetence and as a plea for Austrian occupation .
The most recent history of Bulgaria has been more easy to condemn with an appearance of plausibility . Let me here state the real facts in view of her importance as a neighbour . All who knew M. Stambulov agree that his cowardice amounted to a mania . Haunted by the recollection of his various victims , he was also haunted by an hysterical dread of assassination . When the same conspiracies were directed against Prince and Premier , the former strolled about indifferently in public places , while the latter would only dart in and out of his house like a rabbit , and go his errands in the centre of a phalanx of cavalry . When M. Belchev was shot down by his side , some say by his orders , Stambulov turned and ran like a hare . He plied his friends with incoherent documents seeking to implicate , in the event of his assassination , all those he most disliked from the Prince on his throne , to M. Nachević in office and M. Tufekchiev in exile . The trial has now taken place , and no effort has been spared to satisfy justice ; but the circumstances of the crime have conferred an apparent plausibility on the monomaniac’s ravings . Obviously the easiest way to discredit Prince and Government was , not to identify the real culprits , but to talk vaguely of criminals in high places . This has evidently been done , and a painful impression remains among superficial observers , though the slightest application of common – sense should have sufficed to dispel it . Similarly in the matter of the exiled officers misunderstanding has been made easy . The many shortcomings of Prince Alexander , his tyranny , his vices , his cowardly flight to Sofia during the Servian War , and his utter loss of nerve after his kidnapping , have been white – washed and forgotten . He is held up as an ideal ; and the officers who sought to rid Bulgaria of his obsession and incompetence are stigmatised as traitors . No one pauses to examine their honourable antecedents , or to reflect that so brilliant a statesman as Prince Ferdinand would never tolerate their amnesty were he not convinced of its wisdom and their loyalty . I do not deny that their return with all the prejudices of exiles – no- thing learnt and nothing forgotten may constitute a menace in the future ; but I have full confidence in the destiny of the brave Prince who has confronted far graver dangers and overcome them all .
The relations of Servia and Montenegro also deserve a passing allusion . Under King Milan these were as bad as they could be , and rumours arose that Prince Nicholas cherished ambitions of supplanting the Obrenović dynasty by that of Petrović . In any case , there can be little doubt that he fostered Karageorgević intrigues in Servia . He has the face and manner of a typical Oriental intriguer ; and the half – heroic , half – bandit history of his hardy little Principality has earned him among many Servians in Macedonia , and even among certain discontented spirits in Servia proper , the allegiance due to the head of the Servian race . will , of course , be remembered that the Servians and Montenegrins are of one blood and one language ; and that the Montenegrins , who have never been entirely under the subjection of Turkey , consider they have a prior claim to the reconstruction of the old Servian Empire . The future can alone reveal what the Prince will do . All that may yet be said with certainty is that his recent reception at Belgrade was most enthusiastic ; and that he is extremely ambitious , but entirely loyal to the pan – Servian idea . If he will content himself with the part of a disinterested mentor to King Alexander , he may be of the utmost service to that idea , and he may be sure that in any re – partition of Turkish and Austrian territory he will not be forgotten .
The particular point of this chapter , however , and indeed of this book , concerns the relations of Servia and England . The Balkan States are now in the birth-pangs of a new condition of things , and , if our diplomacy were not consistently blind to our interests , we should not neglect an opportunity which may never recur . Our right to be consulted in the affairs of Turkey has long been admitted , but the Balkan States have been suffered to pass under the control of nearer neighbours , although recollections of our acquiescence in the emancipation of Servia and Bulgaria inspire friendliness for us – a feeling which might easily be developed into something stronger , now that Russia is mistrusted and Austria has been given the go – by . For our own sake , as well as for that of Servia , an effort should be made to rescue her from the intolerable commercial bondage which Austria has imposed upon her . And a very small effort should suffice to oust the inferior manufactures of Austria , now at the nick of her unpopularity . If necessary , that effort might be fostered advantageously by offering a few small bounties , which would be money exceedingly well spent . This much at least I can say , after travelling for some months in every part of Servia , and conversing with representative Servians of every class , and I can say it with emphasis that the least evidence of an inclination on our part to make the required effort would be received with enthusiasm in Servia , and would be met a great deal more than half – way . Surely it behoves us to retain at all costs the one remaining friend we still possess in the world , the one country where the name of Old England is still revered and well – beloved .
