New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-09
FnA,us JosEPK OF AUSTRIA.

icy Of Austria b8s attracted genera! aud intense
attention. The three principal powers involved
in the quarrel, as well as the whole diplomatic
word have been sn1iously waiting in alter
nate hope and fear for the decision that is eI-
pected to proceed from the imperial residence at
vienna. We have already, on several occasions,
sought to explain to our readers the policy Of
Austria, with It's varied grounds and Incentives,
and lis probable final issues. But each new evo-
luton of this policy takes the observer BY sur
prise. revealing mastersbip in cunning which
leaves far behind the joint wisdom aud experience
of all the other cabinets interested in the present
struggle. From the start OF the pending compi'
cations the Cabinet Of Vienna hss known how TO
face both ways with cOnsummate GOODNESS. thas
reached hand to each OF the combatsnts-Eng-
land and France on the one side, aud Russia on
the other, have been continually taken in and
bsmboozled, each Of them constantly believing it
had csuaht Austria at las. and brought Ter over.
Tie conferences Of Vienna, which took place as
il were under the coat tail of the Emperor,
afforded an easy opportunity tor this sort of bal
anciDg. 81 during Their sessions Austria was able
to appear friendly and conciliatOry TO the hostile
parties The IIapsburg Cabinet coixed sad pat
ted both without committing itself to either
Baron MtyeudorG the Russian Envoy At Vienna
a diplomat Of the highest reputation, who be-
lieyed himself all powerful and all-iDaacntill, aud
boosted TINT he ted the Conference in the palm
of his hand was completely duqed' ana it Wa
discovered that be had been Led BY the nose oaly
1 oil 10 lie aI,at sI visit Ia
N'sIDa.
From protocol to protocol from one note 20
another, the diplomacy Of Austria hiss most SIC
ces,fuly avoided everything that could dis.ipstc
the fog il hich she has invoyed her course. She
has never Iisked a move, or taken step, without
having FIST tried how far it would be safe, aud
secured all the cbsnces and advantages on her
side. Her central situation between the beuig-
ereDts; her strategic position toward the Phncl-
pa'itics, and, after their occupation toward Rus
tia; sud htr powerful military organization, have
greatly assisted the crafty msneuyer. OF her d.
plomscy. Zach party has been unwilling TO put
Austria Tito o corner, or TO tear away the vail
still in the confdeLt expectation that at the last
moment she would prove sn ally to itself. Once,
previous 10 tie crossing Of the Danube, the Car
put the question to Aus!ria: . DO YOU wish for
war or rescc ?" and she succeeded IN Gliding i
by an undecided answer Thus neither OF tie
belligertnts has wished TO ofeId her all have
been obliged to be sati fed with what she might
choose TO hold BE- fore their eyes 1t has always
been phantom constantly escaping the grasp
Austria concluded the Convention with Turkey
concerning the occupation of the Pfincfpahties,
without the knowledge of either of the two Allies,
or Of Russia, and succeeded too ia making Il
acceptable to both. Slowly but uninternptedly
,be went On to dissrm the opposition of the
ThuriDeisn States Of Germany. as well as that
resulting from the convention Of Bsmberg got up
by Bavaria and Prussia in opposition TO herself,
under the prtteDse of defending German interests.
Thread by thread she entaDgled Prussia, frs.
cbtsining one concession, then guarantee. then
extending both, until Prussia finally yielded and
used her 1nuence over several German States to
bring them up to the work laid out by Austria.
Thus Austria has sue ,eeded in identifying her
views Oh the PrincRslities with Germsn interests,
and in securing from Prussia aud the Frankfort
Diet guarantee that any attack made on her
troops in the Prncipsllties will constitute an st
tack on the German Confederation. By this means
Russia has been pslsed in that direction. Next
the same guarantee was extended to the Austrian
possessions within the boundaries of the Con-
federation, and if Gallicia and Hungary. ,tuated
without these boundaries, are subject TO Russian
invasion the armies Of the Gar, even if sue
cessfu would not march or Vienna without dnd
ing all Germany arrayed in their path.
As soon as Austria had succeeded in gaining
these points from Prussia she opened her diplo-
mats batteries again, and the consequence was,
that Prussia still further extended her guarsn-
tees and entered still more completely into the
views Of her crafty neighbor. At the same mo-
nent, preserving the utmost secrecy toward her
diplomatic victim at Berlin, Austria concludes the
late treaty with England and France treaty
whore reslmeaning puzzles the politicians Of both
the continents. Prussis, and Germany with her,
though tsktn unawares have already gone 80 far,
and have allowed themselves TO be 70 encircled
in TIE folds of the Austrian serpent, tina, it will
be difficult, especially for Prussia, 20 escape.
They must either follow Austria or cut through
the net BY violent effort. Thus, up to the pres
ens moment, Austria hover over Europe. and
keeping her decisive thunders suspended, con.
tIols its action.
All this series of facts evinces uncommon crafei-
ness on the part Of the Austrian diplomacy.
The question arises, Who 10 the spirit that d.
reefs it whose hands pull the wires that move
the Oldest and shrewdest statesmen Ike pup
pets Old Mstternich is out Of the question