that his was the only policy Russia
could pursue with dignity and profit. . . . Thereupon he entrusted
Hartwig with the most important post in the Balkans."

De Schelking, secretary to the Russian Legation in Berlin, gives a
picture of Hartwig's immense influence: "Shortly after his arrival
in Belgrade, Hartwig created a most exceptional position for
himself. The King, Prince Alexander, Pashitch, none of these made
any decisions without consulting him first. . . . Every morning his
study was besieged by Serbian statesmen who came to ask advice" (The
Game of Diplomacy). It is amusing to compare de Schelking's account
with an order from Pashitch, November 14, 1912: "Take notice: Our
Ministers in Foreign lands are to be informed that Hartwig has not
visited the King, and that he comes to the Foreign Office less than
any of the other Ministers." According to de Schelking he had no
need to visit anybody. But I fancy Kings Ferdinand and Nikola made
their plans without consulting him. Nor can they be blamed for so
doing.

The alleged object of Hartwig's Balkan alliance was to protect the
Balkan peoples from further annexation. It was, however, difficult
to unite Bulgaria and Serbia, and would have been harder yet had
King Ferdinand known that Russia had already told Serbia that she
had no use for a Big Bulgaria. Perhaps neither the Serbo-Bulgar nor
the Bulgar-Greek alliances would have been effected, but for the
co-operation of Mr. J. B. Bourchier, whose honesty was beyond all
doubt, and who was trusted where a Balkan envoy would not have been.
He too, unfortunately, was unaware that Bulgaria's fate was already
sealed by Russia, and that England was too deeply tangled in Russian
intrigue to be able to stand for justice.

The Serbo-Bulgar alliance was signed on February 29,
1912, and was to be in force till December 1920. The two parties
were "unconditionally and without reservation to mutually aid each
other with all the forces of the State if one or more other States
should attack one of these countries" and "to support one another
with all force should any one of the Great Powers make the attempt
to forcibly acquire even temporarily any territory situate in the
Balkans, and at present under Turkish suzerainty." Russia meant none
but herself to put a finger in the Balkan pie.

Russia seems to have been doubtful about Montenegro, for the Serb
minister in Petersburg reports (February 17, 1912): "As regards the
visit of th