The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-14
THE AUSTRIAN POLICY.
Count Heust's DeciuratiO MS Austria
Eager for Peace and Unprepnred for War.

Eager for Peace and UnDrepnred for War.
VIENNA, Nov. 24.-The declaration of the
Vienna Government that it will support Eng
land and Turkey, even to the most extreme
measures, may have caused some surprise to the
admirers of Count Beust, whose policy has
hitherto been one of peace, especially in all
difficulties that have at various periods
threatened the Sublime Porte. The Counts
well-known New Years despatch of 1867 Gin
which he proposed Congress of the
sgnatary powers of the treaty of Paris of 1856,
to consider the question whether Russia should
not be released from the shackles placed upon
her maritime power in the Black Sea), will not
have been forgotten; and the Journal de 81.
PeterSbourg recently asked why Count Beust
should find the revision OF the treaty wrong
and injurious to-day, which he considered as
desirable in 1867. That proposition, however,
was made at an apparently ugpropitious mo-
ment. The political condition of Southern
Europe was then very critical;
Crete stood in flames; France and England
considered the proposition "monstrous,
and Russia refused to make use of the
pint; and now the question is again called up,
but in a more dangerous form, Count Beust
takes most decided stand d-point, quite at var-
ance with his usual peace making policy, and
feels bound to be guided In his course alto
gether by that takon by Turkey and England.
In every question that has previously threat
always been the very foremost to act the
part of conciliator. We need only call to mind
the kindly services of the Austrian Government
in the Servian difficulties with Turkey; in pre-
venting war between Greece and the Sublime
Porte in the Cretan difficulties; and then again
in smoothing away the difficulties that threat
ened rupture between the Sultan and the
Khedive; and why does he not now use his good
services in smoothing away the present diff
culties?
Count Beust has recently answered these
questions himself, il a spirit corresponding to
the tone adopted by the English Government.
What ha psidara6 Nc nOlipv in 1897 pniuht
be so in 1910 were it adopted in manner cor
responding to the usages of civilized nations;
and he complains that the rude breaking of a
treaty by any one power would lead, if per-
sisted in by all European powers, to a condition
of things little removed from barbarism. When
he proposed Congress in 1867, all the signatary
powers were in existence; but now Russia
has seized an opportunity for an illegal act
when one of the then greatest powers lies
PROSTATE, and the other appears to be in mood
creating suspicion as to the position which she
| intends to occupy. Prussiasis bound, equally
with France, England, Italy, and Austria, to
when she does not, she places herself at the
side of Russia. So say the Austrian journals.
And the result of this alliance or understanding
between two great powers is considered
and the neutrality of Prussia will
! be considered as an act of hostility
! towards that Government. The Vienna journals,
official and unofficial, speak plainly on this
point, and in high diplomatic circles the view
! prevails universally that an understanding-not
an alliance, in the exact sense of the word-was
had between the Emperor of Russia and King
William, at the memorable meeting of the two
monarchs at Ems, just before the breaking out
of the German-French conflict: This agree
ment was that Prussia should be left a free
hand with France, and permitted the unmolested
annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, and, in re-
turn, Russia should be at liberty TO open up
the Eastern question to her own satisfaction.
| This opinion, Notwithstanding the fact that
Odo Russell was convinced in Versailles that
no alliance" exists between the two powers,
| is firmly held in Vienna in official quarters.
And the tone of total Indifference to Russia's
action, as exhibited In the Prussian press, helps
| to strengthen this view.