Alexander's Knot

Like many another king, Alexander of Jugoslavia was sick last week with influenza when Monsignor Anton Koroshetz, the Prime Minister, called to say that he no longer had a majority in Parliament and must resign. His Majesty replied between coughs and snuffles that Monsignor Koroshetz would have to wait a bit.

Retiring respectfully the priest Prime Minister waited, doubtless prayed and presently, as the Royal flu abated, handed in the Cabinet's resignation.

Soon King Alexander was able to confer with the politicians of all parties only to discover that no bas' or community of interests existed on which to found a new government. The situation had grown steadily worse since the assassination of Croat leader Stefan Raditch in Parliament (TIME, July 28) and last week the numerous Croatian deputies clamored furiously for local autonomy, demanding for Croatia a sort of "dominion status" under the crown at Belgrade. Since King Alexander is no Croat but a Serbian he was exceeding vexed. After two days and nights of consultation His Majesty's patience with the politicians grew thin. Finally with vigorous pen strokes the king signed three decrees:

1) Suspending the constitution.

2) Dissolving Parliament.

3) Entrusting the government to stern, ruthless General Pera Zickovitch who will act pro tempore as Prime Minister.

Within a few hours a royal proclamation was printed and posted up extensively in Belgrade: "To MY DEAR PEOPLE:

"I, ALEXANDER, KING OF THE SERBS, CROATS AND SLOVENES, FEEL IT MY DUTY AS A SON OF THIS LAND TO TURN TO YOU, ITS PEOPLE, AND FRANKLY AND TRUTHFULLY TELL YOU WHAT IN THIS MOMENT MY CONSCIENCE AND LOVE OF THE FATHERLAND COMPEL ME TO SAY.

"THE MOMENT HAS COME WHEN NO THIRD PERSON MAY STAND BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THEIR KING.

"PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS ALWAYS MY OWN IDEAL AS IT WAS THAT OF MY UNFORGETTABLE FATHER, HAS BEEN SO ABUSED BY BLIND PARTY PASSIONS THAT IT PREVENTED EVERY USEFUL DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE. THE PEOPLE HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN THE INSTITUTION. IN THE PARLIAMENT EVEN THE COMMON DECENCIES OF SOCIAL INTERCOURSE BETWEEN PARTIES AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE BECOME IMPOSSIBLE.

"IT IS MY SACRED DUTY TO PRESERVE THE UNITY OF THE STATE BY EVERY MEANS IN MY POWER. TO SEEK TO REMOVE THESE ABUSES BY FRESH ELECTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN A WASTE OF TIME AND VALUABLE ENERGY. BY SUCH METHODS WE HAVE ALREADY LOST MANY PRECIOUS YEARS. WE MUST TRY OTHER METHODS AND TREAD NEW PATHS.

"I AM CERTAIN THAT IN THIS SOLEMN MOMENT ALL UNDERSTAND THESE WORDS FROM THE HEART OF THEIR KING AND THAT THEY WILL BE MY LOYAL FELLOW WORKERS IN ALL MY FUTURE EFFORTS TO DO WHAT THE HEALTH OF THE STATE REQUIRES.

"I HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED HEREBY TO DECREE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF 1921 ABOLISHED. THE LAWS OF THE LAND WILL REMAIN IN FORCE UNLESS CANCELED BY MY ROYAL DECREE. NEW LAWS IN FUTURE WILL BE MADE BY THE SAME METHOD. THE PARLIAMENT ELECTED NOV. 1, 1927, IS HEREBY DISMISSED.

"IN COMMUNICATING MY DECISION I COMMAND ALL THE AUTHORITIES AND ALL MY PEOPLE TO RESPECT AND OBEY MY WILL"

(SIGNED) ALEXANDER, R.

Even more significant, if possible, than the royal proclamation was a statement from Dr. Vladko Matchek, leader of the Croats, the one "minority people" sufficiently strong to resist dictatorship. With a great gladness, Dr. Matchek cried: "Our King acted in the spirit of our murdered [Croatian] leader Stefan Raditch who said before he died: 'There is no constitution and there are no laws, only the king and his people.'

"On his own initiative the King has made a clean sweep in order to give Jugoslavia a chance to rebuild from the bottom up according to the needs and desires of the people."

The Novosti, leading Croat news organ, exulted:

"Like Alexander of Macedonia,* Alexander of Jugoslavia cut through the Gordian Knot."

*I.e. "Alexander the Great" (B. C. 356-323). Today Macedon or Macedonia has no separate existence, having been portioned among Greece, Bulgaria and Jugoslavia. Thus, in fact, King Alexander, "Alexander-of-a-part-of-Macedon," may yet become "Alexander the Great."