MONTENEGRO.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR,—Under the above title you published in your issue of March 13th a letter from Mr. Alex. Devine, in which he points out that Montenegro, held by Serbian force of arms, with her King and Government in exile, is denied right, justice, and self-determination " because Xing Nicholas had not the com- mercial instinct to develop the economic resources of his country." In support of Mr. Devine's constant and chivalrous advocacy of Montenegro's cause may I, as a former British Minister resident in that country, state the following fact? About twenty-five years ago Prince Nicholas of Montenegro— as he then was styled—was strongly pressed by a powerful international syndicate to sanction the establishment of a "Monte Carlo" in the picturesque and sunny little Adriatic coast town of Antivari. From every point of view it was an ideal spot for such a purpose, and the tempting financial terms offered would have been of great and permanent benefit to the Sovereign's modest private purse and to the attenuated national Exchequer. King Nicholas, to his honour be it said, unhesitatingly refused—to use his own words—" to receive and enjoy pecuniary benefits at the cost of the corruption of his
Previous page
