THE YUGO-SLAV ANNIVERSARY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1928, Page 7

THE YUGO-SLAV ANNIVERSARY

It is now ten years .since the Seiibs of the Balkans and the Slovenes and Croatians then subject to Austrian and Hungarian domination were united in one State under a prince of their own race. The establishment oil’ this “triune kingdom,” ruled by a descendent of Kara George, the founder of Serbian independence, was in many ways an event of great historical importance. It meant, among other things, that the Southern Slav peoples, after centuries of servitude under Turkish, Austrian and Magyar masters, now at last secured liberty and the right of self-government, ft involved the dismemberment of the Dual Monamliy which had so completely displayed its unfitness for the control of foreign races. And it introduced to the Powers of Europe a new State of 100.000 square miles in area, a population of over 12.000,000 industrious, patriotic and virile people. Such a country is without doubt destined to play a great part in the future ol Europe. The fate of Yugo-Sbivia is a. matter of great interest to Britain and the Empire. For the Serbs during tho war wore our faithful allies, fighting gallantly against enormous odds in the common cause. The emergence of a now State, attached by friendly association to Britain, may make a vast difference in future to international relations in Southern and Eastern Europe. And we who recognise from experience the fine qualities of the many Serbs and Dalmatians and Croats and Slovenes who have made New Zealand their home, have special and personal grounds for offering our congratulations to flic Yugo-iSlsiv peoples on their national anniversary, and wishing them and their country all possible prosperity and happiness.