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Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1928, Page 2

Tiib free shooting in the Serbian Parliament has had another tragic sequel in the death of Stefan Rnditeh, leader of the Croatian Peasants or Nationalist Party. Little as they loved Raditch the rulers of the ‘‘Triune Kingdom” were exceedingly anxious, says a northern paper, that he should recover, as they feared that his death would produce serious political complications and possibly an armed insurrection. Just now the followers of Rnditeh aipixuir to lie overwhelmed with grief and disinclined to take violent action. But the feeling against the Serbs among tlx l Cron tin. ns is

strong and bitter, and this unfortunate episode is not likely to produce a conciliatory" effect upon them. Rnditeh had been leader of the Croatian Party for nearly a quarter of a century, and ho had always shown the greatest courage and determination in championing their rights After the war, what Radi,tell and *tho wanted was some form of federal union with the Serbs and Slovenes which would leave them virtually an autonomous republic. But though Rnditeh refused at first to recognise the Triune Kingdom and even negotiated with the Third International to secure support against the new monarchy, lie finally bent to the inevitable and made terms with Belgrade. Jt is extremely improbable that his death will induce the Creations to desist from their demands for a Federal Union, to replace the Triune Kingdom, and it may bo that the Serbs, to avoid more serious disaster, may ultimately attempt to co in promise with them.