A correspondent of the Times who telegraphs from St. Petersburg
on April 29th, and must, therefore, have passed the Censor, reports that General Kuropatkine, the Minister of War, has proposed a military Convention with Servia. Under this plan Russia will guarantee the independence of Servia, and the Servian Army in return will be placed "in certain contingencies " at the disposal of Russia,—King Alexander even agreeing to post his troops permanently in North Servia according to Russian advice. This plan has been so far accepted that serious negotiations are proceeding between Russia and Servia on this basis. It is scarcely pos- sible to believe that such an agreement will be made, as it is an open defiance to Austria, and a threat to her faithful ally, the King of Roumania. It would break up the pact under which the peace of the Balkans is preserved, and perhaps compel Austria to declare against the Obrenovitchea. The great chance for the agreement, it is said, is that the new Queen of Servia, who is strongly protected by Russia, favours it.
