27 JUNE 1903, Page 17

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

KING PETER arrived at Belgrade on Wednesday, and was received with enthusiasm by the soldiery ; but his position is scarcely a pleasant one. The British, French, Italian, Turkish, Danish, and Dutch Envoys had left the capital, their Governments refusing to recognise a Government established by mutiny and murder, at all events until the assassins have been punished. The Austrian and Russian Envoys have, it is true, remained, each fearing that if he departed his rival would establish an influence; but even they will, it is under- stood, press the new Sovereign to show his displeasure at the atrocities in some marked way. The Servian officers are somewhat dismayed by the reprobation of Europe, but they insist on an amnesty under penalty of ' another insurrection ; and King Peter has, it is evident from his speeches, given way. He probably is not very zealous for abstract right, and he pleads that as the whole nation has forgiven the ruffians, and the Sknpshtina has congratulated them, he is practically powerless. If he is a strong man, he will recover the Royal authority gradually; but though he is more cultivated than the Obrenovitches were, and makes a pleasanter impression, he has as yet given no evidence of personal capacity to occupy a difficult throne. He promises deference to Austria, but relies on Russia, where, however, the Servians are for the moment most unpopular, a group of Servian officers, for instance, having been pelted out of a music-hall at St. Petersburg. It is too soon to prophesy, but there is ominous talk already of substituting King Peter's son, a lad of fifteen educated in Russia, for his father, and governing for a year or two through a Regency.