The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

members of the Opposition, influenced by the current rumours, should oppose M. Paii¢’s policy and frustrate the sending of Serbian delegates to Petrograd. M. Hartwig protested most emphatically against the fallacy of such rumours. “I know,” he said, “that at this moment the Serbs would like to have some assurances that their point of view will be accepted and their claims be satisfied before irrevocably accepting the Tsar’s arbitration. Unfortunately Tam unable to give them such assurances, because it would be a deceit towards them, a deceit towards my Sovereign, and such assurances of any kind would be a deceit in the mouth of any Russian diplomatist. The Tsar of Russia will never give a sham award. He has been approached and has consented to arbitrate in the Serbo-Bulgarian dispute, and he will be guided by his conscience alone after he has heard both parties duly exposing and defending their cause. Personally I consider that Serbia, by the spirit of the alliance, is entitled to some compensation, and I have done all in my power to emphasise the Serbian point of view, but please do not forget that Bulgarians have done so also. Now my part is ended. The only thing that the Serbs can do, is to send their ablest man to expose before the Tsar the correctness of their standpoint and the justice of their claims. Russia loves Serbia and Bulgaria both equally, and the Russian Tsar will deal with them according to 190