KING AS-DICTATOR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 9 January 1929, Page 5

KING AS-DICTATOR

THE SERBIAN CRISIS POLITICAL LEADERS’ FAILURE United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright ("Times” Cables) LONDON, Till January. The Belgrade correspondent of “The Times’’ described King Alexander as the most absolute of all muiiarehs. By virtue of tlie decree announcing the new regime he assumed complete and sole authority over every department of the State, makes laws, nominates officials and military officers, commands all armed forces, is responsible for foreign affairs, declares war or peace, grants amnesties to criminals, and can release lliem before trial, lie fixes the amount of bis own civil list, his person is inviolate, and he cannot lie accused or held responsible for any act. lie appoints Ministers responsible to him directly, who cannot even plead he instructed them. The King nominates judges of the special court for trial of Ministers, and also nominates the regent in the event of his dying before the heir attains 18.

It can he said forthwith that the idea of an autocracy is unpopular in Serbia. Serbs are temperamentally democratic, and history shows that since the Turkish yoke was thrown off, there "has been a long struggle by the people against the rulers for supremacy. Their most unhappy memories are earlier coups d’etat.

There will bo loss exasperation to-day because Parliament brought the country to such a pass that the Serbians were discontented with inefficient administration, and also with the political leaders’ failure to come to terms with tho Croats. There was widespread conviction that drastic events were imminent, and tho King only forestalled them. Tho Hapsburg provinces will bo less disposed to question the King’s dictatorship because they are accustomed to autocratic rule.

Tho Croats will rejoice because they are relieved of tho hated constitution which was the root of all their troubles.