ADRIATIC CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1928, Page 8

ADRIATIC CRISIS

ITOM.E HULK 'TROUBLE

(By Colonel Alfred Stead, C.M.G.)

ZAGREB, (Croatia).

IT a map of Europe were coloured to show the likeliest places Tor the start of another world-war, the most purple patch would still be the northern half of he Balkan Peninsula—precisely the region in the heart of which, at Sarajevo the revolver shots were lircd on that dune Sunday of 1914 which killed the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and set the whole world in arms. Few people in Great Britain pav much attention to Balkan affairs to-day. Yet Englishmen who, like myself, live in that part ot Europe know well how precarious is the basis upon which peace rests, and how wide -and instantaneous would Be the complications if war were to break out there again. Within tin* past fortnight tin l critical situation now existing in Jugoslavia has come to a head. It has been forced upon the attention of Europe by the action of the Croatia ns —one of the three nationalities making up that kingdom- in declaring n boycott against their dominant partners. the Serbs, and claiming complete home rule, with King Alexander a (i the sole link between them and the rest of .1 ugo-Slavia. There is another striking instance of the failure of those minor peace treaties which were recklessly hurried through in Paris after the excitement of making peace with Germany was over and all fin* Allied statesmen had gone home.

Jngo-Slavia—or to use its picturesque full title, the Triune Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes-—was brought into existence, like C zeclioSlovakia and an immensely enlarged Rumania, bv those hasty treaties. Not one of the new States thus created has been a success. C/.eclio-Slovakia may split up at any time. 'The abuses existing in Rumania have long been an international scandal that the League of Nations has shown itseftf powerless to remedy.

And now the blunder o| trving to combine Croats and Sorbs under one Government has brought about a new crisis in the Balkans. Sheer incompatibility of temperament has wrecked the “war-marriage” between Serbia and Croatia. r l he two peonies simply cannot get on together. The •*.400,000 Serbs, for centuries oppressed bv the Turks, and still dominated by the Greek-Orthodox religion, are definitely Balkan in their outlook. The .‘1,400,000 Croats, who are Roman Catholics ,lmve always looked to the West.

The act of union which formed the new kingdom of Jngo-Slavia expressly staled that within the new .State there should he equal right for all. The Croats maintain, however, that the Serbs of the old kingdom have arrogated to themselves the right, to dominate their new fellow-countrymen.

LEADERS ASS A SSTX A'TED.

Tlio pcoplo of tlio now territories have not obtained tin* part tlic.v exnocted in tlio government of tlio Triune State. Croatia lost tlio old autonomy which slio had enjoyed oven imdor tlio worst days of tlio Hapsbnrgs. wlion sin* was part of tin 1 Aus-iro-HUnitarian Empire. In joining Smiliia she pave op hor local parliamont and her national flag, and while slio found herself called upon to furnish the hulk of the taxation of the now kingdom, very little of it was spent upon Croatia’s own needs. Protests of the Croatian deputies dn the Belgrade Parliament earned thorn nothing hut abuse. The climax came when the Croatian loader, Stephen Thud itch, and three other Croatian members were shot down by a Serbian deputy in open parliamentary session, two of them dying at once and Rad itch some weeks later. After these assassinations the Croat deputies withdrew from the Belgrade Parliament, which they now refuse to recognise. But though they have broken off their association with tin* Serbs, the Croatia ns still proclaim their loyalty to King Alexander. AVhat thov want now is “Dominion status” for Croatia, on the model of the British Empire. To make a first step in this direction the representatives of the departments making up Croatia met on September at Zagreb and decided to build a new modern harbour at (Split, or Spalnto. as it used to he called, on the Adriatic coast along which Croatia lies.

A PORT FOE HUNGARY

The aim of the Croats is that this leir.hour should become an outlet lot the produce of Hungary, which has heent cut off from the sea since the neace treaty stopped her old access to Eiume. They hope to offer to Hungary at Split both free-port facilities and rroed railway communications.

These plans show that the Croatian leaders are anxious to use the new powers which they have just assumed for advancing the economic interests not only of themselves hut of their neighbours. I have had special opportunity to learn a good deal of the ambitions of the Croat nation, for T was the last foreigner to have a conversation with its late chief, Stephen Raditeh. before his death. As his successors, the present heads of the Croat Party-Dr Matclick, AT. Kosntilch. and Dr Drlievitch—heard with approval the statements which their leader made to mo, it is certain that they represent

the policy which inspires the present home-rule movement in Croatia.

M. Kadi tell strongly urged the need for friendly relations with both Italy and Hungary. He was convinced that Mussolini has no aggressive intentions towards .Jngo-Slavia, and in view of the common commercial interests between Croatia and Hungary he desired to see a general settlement of dilTerences between those two countries.

best form of government

“We Croats consider.” said M. Raditeh, “that Hungary's good conduct under the 'Treaty of 'Trianon has earned for her the confidence of Europe. One thing, however, which would forfeit that confidence would he any attempt on her part to bring hack the Hapsburg dynasty. The rule ol that family brought nothing hut disaster to Cooral Europe, and we Croats would strongly oppose a return of its evil influence.

“Apart from the return of the Hapslmrgs, we have no objection to arise to a restoration ol the Hungarian monarchy. AYe are monarchists ourselves and regard a oonstitutfonal monarchy of the British type as the most efficient form ol government in the world.”

For the continued existence of the Little Entente M. Raditeh saw no reason. It was. he said, a war measure. while his whole policy for Croatia was based on peace and friendly relations with her neighbours. [ have every reason to believe that these views will inspire the Croatpeople. If they are carried into execution Llioy should certainly win for this small and enterprising nation the sympathy of public opinion in Great Britain.