The ex-King of Servia, in the course of an interview
with the Times correspondent at Lucerne, published on Wednesday, disclaimed any notion on his part of interfering with the politics of Servia. His abdication was a real one, and he desired no political influence whatever. The new. Ministry would, he believed, be a strong one, but he did not expect that it would be in any sense anti-Russian, there being in Servia a strong feeling of sympathy for Russia. At the same time, he im- plied that it was necessary for Servia to stand well with Austria.
In connection with this, it is to be noted that the Vienna news- papers show themselves very hostile to the new Ministry. The Nene Preie Presse declares that it will be necessary "to sub- ject the development of affairs in Servia to a narrower scrutiny for there is every reason to believe that the fall of M. Pas- hitcValthough he is favourably' regardedIt St. Petersburg, is not only due to the influence of M. Ristiteb, but that Russian intrigue has likewise been at work in Belgrade ; " while the Extrablatt warns the Chief Regent in the following terms :—" No anxiety need be felt in Austria with regard to Servia as long as M. Ristitch preserves his presence of mind, and does not allow his friendship for Russia to make him forget how very far Belgrade is from the Neva, and how very near it lies to the Danube." It is evident that the rivalry between Russia and Austria at Belgrade is very keen, and that it may take all M. Ristitch's ingenuity to execute suc- cessfully what the Americans call "a straddle."
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