The state of affairs in Servia is most confused. To
begin with, the elections have ended in the return of 102 Radicals to 15 Liberals, which, as the Regency is Liberal, is not favourable to its authority. Then the distribution of arms to the reservists, as they would be called in France, has com- menced, and there will shortly be eighty thousand men with rifles in and near the capital, but not enrolled in the Army. Then Queen Natalie arrived on Sunday in Belgrade, and was enthusiastically received by the whole population except the officials, who took no notice of her, and barricaded the Palace, which the people offered to storm. The Regency sent General Gruitch, the Premier, to offer the Queen-Mother terms, the idea being that if she would go away, she should receive Royal honours, and visit her son for three weeks it every year. The offer was refused in terms which we have quoted elsewhere, and an impression is gaining ground that Queen Natalie intends to utilise her popularity, and play for her own hand,—demanding the Regency, for instance. That would bring King Milan into the field, and perhaps produce civil war. Our impression is that the Queen is ambitions, and determined to punish her husband, who quite deserves it, at any risk to her son ; but we are bound to add that informa- tion never was more conflicting. The correspondents pick up their views from the diplomatists, and the diplomatists lie more unscrupulously than usual. Each of them repeats, possibly believes, precisely the story which it will, he knows, suit his Court to believe. One would like to hear the secret opinion, say, of the Chief Rabbi of Servia.
