The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-23
The Progress OF the War-More Rumors,
SpeculntIons and Contradictions.

-
SpeculatIons and Contradictions.
The principal feature of interest in the adj
vices received by the Franklin is the report
for as yet it has assumed no more authentic
forIn--that Austria is about to abandon her
position of neutrality and to take steps that
will .deiinitively commit her to measures OF
active cooperation with the Western Powers.
Whether this resolution has been forced upon her
by the action of Russia, or that she has adopted
it from considerations of her own interests we
have yet to learn. 1t is stated on the one
hand that Russia recently intimated TO the
Prussian government that she had determined
to address an ultmatum to Austria, calling
upon her in positive terms to declare herself
either for or against her, but at all events to
declare herself Baron Manteuficl stated in re-
ply to this communication that such step
would be useless, as, being in possession of the
sentiments of the Austrian cabinet on the SUBJ
ject, he was aware beforehand of the nature of
the answer that would be given. Subsequently,
We presume, to this alleged notiGcation-tor
the sources from whence the information is de-
rives are not particular as to dates-an intima-
ton Of somewhat similar character was con-
veyed to Baron Manteufel by Count Buol
The latter stated that it was the inten-
ton Of the Austrian government to call
upon Russia to give explanations as to her
conduct in exciting revolutionary movements
in the States Of neighboring sovereigns, and
more particularly in Montenegro, and to insist
upon the evacuation Of the Principalities.
These statements seem to us to hang so
loosely together, and to be altogether so much
out of the ordinary course that would be pur
sued by the governments named, in the event
of their deciding upon any formal steps Of the
kind intimated, that we cannot help looking
upon them as founded rather upon the antici-
pations arising from the intrigues of Russia
in Montenegro and Greece, than upon
the actual occurrence Of the facts stated.
The financial necessities of the Western
governments render il Just now of the
higest Importance that the anxiety caused
by the doubtful attitude OF the two lead
ing German powers, shall not be converted
into panic; and the correspondents of the
English and French press at Berlin and Wen
H"' "NNoioih5iy eStHS upoh SNcl IuuloI CdiSu-
lated to convey favorable impression to the
public mind at home. Since the commence
ment of these negotiations, which have had
for their object to secure the adhesion Of
Austria and Prussia to the interests of the pa
lition, we have seen with what feverish
eagerness every slight indication and symp-
tom in the intermittent sympathies and
leanings of those two powers have been
watched and laid hold of by the newsmongers
in the pay of the London and Paris press. We
have seen statement after statement put forth
with the utmost postiveness of assertion,
either fatty contradicted or explained away by
succeeding dispatches, so thatit is now difficult
to place reliance upon information derived from
any other sources than the recognized organs OF
the different governments We receive with
the same caution the additional rumors that
form the natural complement to these alleged
diplomatic movements of the Austrian and Rus
sian cabinets. In communication from Vienna,
under date Of the sth instant, it is stated that
during the preceding week conferences had
taken place between Count Buol the Earl OF
Westmoreland and NJ. de Bourquenay. at
which conditions were agreed upon to be Of
fered by Austria to Russia after the former had
entered Bosnia, the Herzegovina, and Upper
Albania These conditions were said to have
been found acceptable by Baron MeycndorT
Ii Il 10 tr,,n - VEG frI "A ocoe~fa1 - .kn-N