The Genesis of a Great Power 



SERVIA AND THE BALKAN LEAGUE. 



By professor T. CVIJIC. 



We are fortunate in being able to publish an article from the pen of one who was amongs 

 the most instrumental in the formation of the Balkan League. Professor Cvijic, who, it is interest' 

 ing to remember, is a Corresponding Member of our Royal Geographical Society, by his ethno' 

 graphic and geographical studies of the Balkan Peninsula, has not only won an Internationa 

 reputation, but has also enabled Servia and Bulgaria finally to arrive at that delimitation of theii 

 spheres of interest without which any joint action was impossible. We make no excuse foi 

 emphasising the Servian side of the question rather than the Bulgarian or the Greek, since the 

 Servian problem is a European one, whereas the Bulgarian question per se will ever remain out 

 side of direct touch of European politics. After Bulgaria has absorbed the Bulgarian portions o 

 Macedonia and Thrace, her racial and legitimate expansion is at an end, however much hei 

 national and commercial life may expand. Matters are far different with Servia. Even aftei 

 the incorporation of Old Servia and the Sanjak of Novi Bazar, in Servia, and Montenegro w( 

 are only at the beginning of the unfolding of Servian problems. From Servia to Trieste, filling 

 Bosnia, Herzegovina, Dalmatia, and part of Istria, the population of the Dual Monarchy is 

 Servian. May it not well be that, having proved herself worthy by having emerged triumphan 

 from her ordeal by fire, Servia's destiny is to be the heir-presumptive of much of the territor) 

 now under the Emperor Franz Joseph? This is what Austria fears and far-seeing Servians desire. 

 It thrusts Servia into the forefront of the battle of international policy which must follow the 

 military campaign. Hers is the greater risk, but also the greater destiny. And as Servia grows 

 and waxes stronger, so will the Balkan League become more formidable and Triple Alliance oi 

 Triple Entente in comparison loom less large in Europe. The article which follows has the 

 added value that those portions of it which relate to Austria have been approved by that Nestoi 

 of Servian statesmen, Nicolas Pachitch. He it was who was head of the Servian Governmeni 

 during the eeionomic war with her northern neighbour, when Servia demonstrated in commerce 

 what she has since shown in war — her ability to defend her independence. Count Goluchowsk 

 fell because Servia resisted successfully the closing of the Austrian frontiers, and Count Berchtholc 

 may well fall because of Servia's ability to secure and maintain the extension of her frontiers. 

 Servian statesmen and people have striven in war and in peace to attain that position describee 

 by the German Emperor when, " Protected by an Army ready for battle from foreign arrogance 

 and from the onslaughts of war, the countryman is able in an ordered commonwealth to till his 

 land, the .merchant, the manufacturer, and the artisan to follow each his business, and the 

 labourer to be certain of his well-deserved hire. They all can rejoice in the fruits of their toil and 

 in the blessings of one civilisation." 



THE STORY OF THE Bx^LKAN LEAGUE. 



f^^^^'^HE difficult politico - geographical 

 ^ position of Servia is well known. It 

 p lies on the main thoroughfare which 

 p leads from Central Europe to Salonica, 

 p between Austria-Hungary- — -which has 

 ^^ definitely occupied Bosnia and Herze- 

 govina with their purely Servian populations — 

 and Turkey, where the Servian population is 

 very numerous, and where anarchy is almost 

 permanent. It was natural, particularly after 



the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that 

 Servia should arm rapidly and earnestly. How 

 far she has succeeded therein will be shown by 

 the war which has just started. This war with 

 Turkey had not been specially foreseen ; it was 

 not expected at this date, nor was it provoked, 

 yet Servia has not been able to avoid it. More- 

 over, it came at an unfavourable moment for our 

 country, for it may compromise, and even hinder, 

 the economical development which has been so 



