ia, Nikola of Montenegro, the
Russian Minister and the Bulgarian diplomatic agent to Cetinje all
met at Abbazia. And Ferdinand is reported to have promised Nikola
the support of his army to overthrow the Obrenovitches with a view
to finally uniting Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and the Herzegovina
into one state with Nikola as head. Nikola began to sow the ground
by starting a newspaper which attacked Austrian policy in Bosnia
severely.

This is a most important turning point in Balkan history, and we
shall see many results.

Mr. J. D. Bourchier, whose knowledge of Bulgarian affairs is
unrivalled, has further told me that not only did Montenegro and
Bulgaria work together for a long while, but Bulgaria also supplied
Montenegro with much money--she was, in fact, another of the many
States who have put money into Montenegro--and lost it.

Things soon began to move. Prince Nikola got in touch with the
Radical party in Serbia and they began to prepare the downfall of
the Obrenovitches.

Bulgaria refortified her Serbian frontier. The Narodni Listy of
Prague described Prince Nikola as the only true Serb upon a throne.

King Alexander proposed at this time to visit Queen Victoria, but
was informed by Lord Salisbury that Her Majesty's health had already
obliged her to decline other visits and she was therefore unable to
receive him.

The Serb Government then complained that Queen Victoria had
conferred a high Order on Prince Nikola, who was but a vassal of
Russia, and had given nothing to the King of Serbia. Some papers
even declared she had shown preference to Nikola precisely on
account of his pro-Russian tendencies.

Russia showed her feelings plainly. The Tsar at a reception spoke
sharply to the Serbian Minister and ignored the new Serbian military
attache who had come to be presented.

Tension between Serbia and Montenegro was now acute. Large numbers
of Montenegrins had been emigrating into Serbia attracted by the
better livelihood to be obtained. The Serb Government in October
1898 formally notified Montenegro that this immigration must cease.
No more land was available for Montenegrins.

The Magyar Orsyagu went so far as to say "Montenegrin agents wander
over Serbia with their propaganda and Serbia has therefore forbidden
the further settlement of Montenegrins in Serbia." Pashitch again
came to the fore and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for
publishing an offensive letter to the ex-King Milan. And