akness of Russia after
the war with Japan, and aware that the proclamation of Bulgarian
independence was imminent, had already decided to annex Bosnia and
Herzegovina, in spite of the pledges given at Berlin, and although the
proposal was unpopular in Hungary. Its decision, after being
communicated to the sovereigns of the powers signatory to the treaty of
Berlin, in a series of autograph letters from the emperor Francis
Joseph, was made known to Bosnia and Herzegovina in an imperial rescript
published on the 7th of October 1908. The Serb and Moslem delegates, who
had started on the same day for Budapest, to present their petition to
the emperor, learned from the rescript that the government intended to
concede to their compatriots "a share in the legislation and
administration of provincial affairs, and equal protection for all
religious beliefs, languages and racial distinctions." The separate
administration was, however, to be maintained, and the rescript did not
promise that the new provincial diet would be more than a consultative
assembly, elected on a strictly limited franchise.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.--G. Capus, _A travers la Bosnie et l'Herzegovine_
(Paris, 1896) contains a detailed and fully illustrated account of the
combined provinces, their resources and population. J. Asboth, _An
Official Tour through Bosnia and Herzegovina_ (London, 1890) is
valuable for details of local history, antiquities and topography: A.
Bordeaux, _La Bosnie populaire_ (Paris, 1904) for social life and
mining. Much information is also contained in the works by Lamouche,
Miller, Thomson, Joanne, Cambon, Millet, Hamard and Laveleye, cited
under the heading BALKAN PENINSULA. See also B. Nikasinovic, _Bosnien
und die Herzegovina unter der Verwaltung der osterreich-ungarischen
Monarchie_ (Berlin, 1901, &c.), and M. Oransz, _Auf dem Rade durch
Kroatien und Bosnien_ (Vienna, 1903). The best map is that of the
Austrian General Staff. See also for geology, J. Cvijic,
_Morphologische und glaciale Studien aus Bosnien_ (Vienna, 1900); F.
Katzer, _Geologischer Fuhrer durch Bosnien und Herzegovina_ (Serajevo,
1903); P. Ballif, _Wasserbauten in Bosnien und Herzegovina_ (Vienna,
1896). Sport: "Snaffle," _In the Land of the Bora_ (London, 1897).
Agriculture and Commerce: annual British consular reports, and the
official _Ergebnisse der Viehzahlungen_ (1879 and 1895), and
_Landwirtschaft in Bosnien und Herzegovina_ (189