THE SERBS & THEIR FUTURE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 5

THE SERBS & THEIR FUTURE.

"You mil think mo very optimistic, I am afraid. Wit iuy hones μ-o almost unlimited. Our nation has snfferfld so many tria-le in the past, and yet faces tlio difficulties of tlio present ko wuragecuoly, that my optimism seems to mo to. bo justified," says Mr. Milovanovitch, Suvian Premier, in tlio 'Manchester Guardian," "But wo shall not realise our hopes in a day or . The P™blem;of the future of tlio Serljs is connected with several other problems which will be. very difficult to wive. Our'future is- linked c.i ono side with tlie future of the baton peninsula as a. whole, since-, there are thousands of Serbs there oiitsido the Ixiiinlaries of Rprvia, and also with tlio fate of Austria-Hungary, since the Croats, as well as tlio Sorbs of Hungary proper ami cf Palinatia, arp of our nation. I'or a practical politician, reunion with the Goats is hardly' thinkable at present. Thev are involved in the destinies, oi Austria-Hungary, and their -(volution will follow that of tlio Empire. Will Austria-iliuigary become, n federal empire, a confederation in winch Hie vnrio'ls nationalities will enjoy complete, autonomy? Or will tl«* Germans and Magyars] cr tlw first alone, for ever retain' tlio preponderance? In tlio Italknna, hrwover, Hid question of tlio nationalities is of immediate interest, and it. scorns lo me that a condition of mind favourable to union has recently been developing in tie various States. Kven-wliei-e ;-(iit«men, thinkers, scholars, publicists seem lo be a.-;r<-ed in looking loss iflt what divides (linn for wlmt unites. A fcelim; of (-amnion dinger seems to l;c inal;iiiß us l'«i-Ket «nr "Ul ciiiaiTcls, and (irivi-ip; us to palliei- ({vsetlipr,. lo form nllin/ioes, l<. liljito."