King Milan has struck an adroit stroke. Aware of the
irritation caused by his repudiation of his wife, he has issued a proclamation calling together the Great Skuptschina, which has constituent powers, in order to make a new Constitution, and has promised that all elections shall be free. The dis- cussion will begin on a project of his own, which eighty five Notables are now elaborating. The Servians are delighted, and the King is popular again ; but they have not seet the Constitution yet. When they have, they may be less pleased ; for it is reported that, although the King grants universal suffrage and other Liberal concessions, he has notions about a " free Executive " which would give him the headship of the Church, as well as of the Army, the Administration, and foreign affairs. The Chamber would, it is true, be supreme over finance ; but then, suppose, the Constitution once formed, the King did not leave the elections free, as he admits that in the past he has not done. It is not possible to establish constitutional government in Servia ; but the Servians may find that the new Constitution, while in- creasing their "liberties," decreases their freedom.
Previous page
