Queen Natalie's chance of the Regency of Servia, which appeared
to us a good one some months ago, has suddenly and decidedly improved. The Radical majority in the Skupt- schina has contrived to quarrel with the Army. They have insisted, it appears, on certain reductions in military allow- ances and military expenditure generally, which so disgusted the higher officers that a plot was formed, or perhaps, to be more accurate, talked of, for raising Queen Natalie to the head of the Government. At all events, the Regents were so alarmed that they summarily placed the two officers controlling the garrison in Belgrade on half-pay, and requested General Horvatovich, the most popular General in the service, and the most useful one in the Bulgarian Campaign, to become War Minister. He declined unless Queen Natalie were recog- nised as Queen-Mother,—that is, in fact, invested with the direct care and control of the young King. The condition was refused, as contrary to a binding engagement between the Regents and King Milan ; but that it should have been made is very significant. It looks very much as if the entire body of the higher officers looked to the Queen as the alternative head of the Government, and would, if much provoked, make a demonstration in her favour. As the Regents inspire no loyalty, and the young King would not be superseded, such a movement might succeed, and produce an entirely new condition of affairs in Eastern Europe.
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