Page 2587, last line but one, for No. 490 read No. 488. 2865, last line but three, for No. 625 read No. 623. No. 452.-SPEECH of Prince Milan Obrénovitch IV, on the Opening of the Session of the National Assembly of Servia. Events in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kragouïévatz, 29th August, 1875. Gentlemen, (Translation as laid before Parliament.) I HAVE always been pleased to find myself in the midst of the Representatives of my people, but I have to-day more than ever reason for being satisfied at seeing myself surrounded by you. For a long time no National Assembly has been convoked under circumstances so grave, and if hitherto I have found the need of your patriotic aid to accomplish my difficult task, to-day, more than ever, I feel the necessity of this support. Gentlemen, Our frontier populations have lately been disturbed in their domestic calm. Some, indeed, have been forced to leave their fields and take up arms to guard the security of the country on our southern and eastern frontiers. You are aware that the events which have taken place in the neighbouring provinces of the Principality, in Bosnia and the Herzegovina,* have created the difficult situation in which Servia finds herself to-day. The population of these provinces, despairing of seeing the end of their sufferings, have risen, arms in hand, to defend themselves from the abuses under which they suffer, notwithstanding the humane and generous intentions of His Majesty the Sultan. In taking measures with a view to the pacification of these Provinces, the Imperial Government is deploying at the same time a large military force on our frontiers. These concentrations of troops round Servia augment still more the gravity of a situation already difficult in itself. Whilst our people see a menace in these concentrations, and demand from the Government means of defence, the refugees, Christians as well as Mahommedans, fleeing from fire and sword, are seeking an asylum within our territory, thus bringing to our country and its authorities new anxieties, and imposing on it immense sacrifices. The Insurrection broke out in July, 1875. [Events in Bosnia and Herzegovina.] This state of things if prolonged would end by becoming intolerable. But since the Sublime Porte, in agreement with the Guaranteeing Powers, has undertaken the work of pacification, we may hope that His Imperial Majesty the Sultan and the High Guaranteeing Powers will, in their wisdom, find a happy solution, which will definitively bring back tranquillity into those countries, whose lot cannot be indifferent to us. In fact, Servia, in so far as it is the immediate neighbour of these Provinces, suffers from a double point of view, both moral and economical, from the periodical insurrections of their inhabitants; she is, consequently, not the less interested that this state of things should be put an end to once for all. I shall, therefore, use every means to contribute, so far as our feeble means allow, so that the result arrived at may give back durable tranquillity to these unsettled countries. Gentlemen, Although nominated but a few days ago, the Ministers whom I have assembled around me in these grave circumstances, will submit to you nevertheless some projects of laws tending to improve our national institutions, to wit, a law destined to increase the securities for personal safety, a law for the extension of the liberty of the press, and a law for the extension of communal self-government. In addressing itself as soon as possible to these important matters, the Government only anticipates a desire expressed in preceding Assemblies, and I doubt not but that a satisfactory solution will be the result of your deliberations. I am happy, lastly, to be able to acquaint you with an event which brings my private feelings into harmony with my duties as a Sovereign. A descendant of that race to which the Servian nation has always shown itself devoted, I have been led to think that, while realizing a personal wish, I might hope also to satisfy the wishes of my people by choosing, as companion of my life and throne, Nathalie Pétrovna, belonging by birth to the Russian nation, to which ties of religion and race, as well as numerous and precious memories in the past attach us. *Consuls were delegated by the British, Austrian, French, German, Italian, and Russian Embassies at Constantinople, in August, 1875, to proceed to the scene of the Insurrection and to inform the Insurgents that they must expect no countenance or support from the Powers, and at the same time to advise them to desist from Hostilities and represent their Complaints to a Commission; but the Mission, which terminated in the following month, was unsuccessful. [Events in Bosnia and Herzegovina.] The National Assembly is open. May wisdom preside over your labours, so that you may worthily accomplish your difficult task. May concord reign amongst you-that concord which, under difficult circumstances, has never failed either in the Assembly or between it and my Government. This must be the starting point, the most solid foundation of our strength and of our future. Kragouïévatz, August 29, 1875. [Events in Bosnia and Herzegovina.] No. 453.-ADDRESS from the National Assembly of Servia, in reply to the Speech from the Throne of 29th August, 1875. Kragouïératz, 7th September, 1875. (Translation as laid before Parliament.) THE National Assembly seeing in its midst its beloved Sovereign constantly occupied with the advancement of our dear country, and appealing to the patriotic support of the Assembly under the present serious and difficult circumstances, the national representatives hasten to respond with that patriotism and devotion which your Highness has a right to expect from the National Assembly, and which has always been displayed by the Servian people towards the glorious house of the Obrénovitch. Highness, the position in which Servia finds herself at the present time is in truth a difficult one. As your Highness has said, our frontier populations are a prey to anxiety. The concentration of a great military force on our frontier by the Sublime Porte, which thus assumes a menacing attitude towards Servia, has torn part of our brethren from their fields and from their homes, and has compelled them to guard in arms over the safety of our country on its southern and eastern frontiers. The people of Servia who have redeemed the land they dwell in with the sword and with their blood, have before their recollection the words contained in the Proclamation of your Highness of 1872, that "it would be a grave responsibility to lose even the least of the acquisitions of our fathers, and little to our credit to add nothing to them." These words have remained deeply engraven in the hearts of all Servians. It is well to bear them in mind at the present moment. The circumstances are serious, but not less serious is the firm will of the Servian people to rise equal to the difficulties of their position. Accordingly, the National Assembly declares solemnly, in the name of the people of Servia, that it is ready to protect its country, to defend its liberty, and to defend the inheritance of the great Milosch and of our ancestors. There is no sacrifice that Servia is not prepared to make on the sacred altar of the country in order to attain this end. At the call of your Highness the people of Servia will rise like one man to defend their beloved country. |