. Nor, during the whole three weeks
that elapsed before the ultimatum, did the Serb Government do
anything to clear up the matter and mitigate Austria's just anger.
One can only deduce that war was expected and intended.

The military party was in the ascendant, and did as it chose. There
was great tension between it and the Government, and already before
the murders Prince Alexander had been selected to replace his father
as Regent.

"In order," according to Bogitchevitch, "to postpone the inevitable
conflict (between the two parties) and that responsibility for
present events should be evaded, and in order perhaps that he might
not have to assume responsibility for future events, King Petar
retired from government and entrusted the Regency to the Crown
Prince." He adds: "Can any one who knows Serb conditions, even
partially, believe that the Government knew nothing of the
conspiratory activities of certain circles of officers and
komitadjis in Bosnia, and that it knew nothing of the preparatory
measures in Serbia for the attentat on the Austrian royal couple?"

The Government, he adds, carried its nonchalance to "such an extent
that Pashitch did not remain in Belgrade, and the Austrian ultimatum
had to be handed to the Minister of Finance, who temporarily
replaced him."

Documents obtained by Mr. Bottomley from the Serbian legation in
London show that its members were aware of the plot. Time, the
revealer of all secrets, will one day unveil the whole of this one.
Meanwhile, I am glad that the Order of St. Sava is not in my house.

Time will show, too, whether the Serb is to be top-dog in
Jugoslavia, or whether, after all these oceans of blood that have
been spilt and the untold misery, we shall arrive at an arrangement
which could have been obtained by patience and Trialism.

The Teuton for the time is broken, and the Slav is loosed. Whether
for better or worse time again will show.

It remains to consider Albania. When I left it in 1914 folk said:
"Now that the Powers are busy fighting each other they will leave us
free to manage our own affairs." The International forces left
almost at once. The Defence left Durazzo before war was declared.
The Prince of Wied left on September 3rd. And the former insurgents
wrote and begged him to return.

Essad Pasha then arrived at Durazzo, and was publicly embraced by
Alliotti the Italian. Most of the International Commission left.
Krajevsky remained, and with the aid