4 JULY 1903, Page 2

Affairs in Servia are settling down, but much depends upon

the forthcoming elections, which will; it is believed, give a heavy majority to the Radical party. The King has promised not to interfere, and has distributed great quantities of his translation of "Mill on Liberty" ; but perhaps he is not quite so philosophic as • he seems. At least he is cultivating his Army most diligently, has assented to a general amnesty, and has issued proclamation after proclamation praising the "heroism," the "patriotism," and other virtues of the officers in a needleesly effusive style. He leaves the conspirators in office, and does not interfere with the Press, which enjoys itself greatly in columns of abuse of "hypocritical" England. That is a safe amusement, of course, though the British Govern- ment is sometines found to have very long arms ; but there are still some obscure points in the situation. One is whether the Army is really united, it being quite possible that the officers and men hold different opinions ; and the other, the true character of the King. At present he is in fetters ; but he will not remain in bondage for ever, he has the fierce blood of Karageorge in his veins, and he will have warm and effective assistance from Montenegro. Kings rarely love conspirators, even of the " devoted " type.