New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-18
PF1CE IN TIE EAST.


The declaration of one of the Austro- Hunga-
rian Delegations that war with Russia Is lneVlt-
able has an ominous sound. Undue import
ance however, must not be attached to it.
The Delegations are body Of 120 members,
elected annually in two equal sections by the
Austrian and Hungarian Parliaments and rep
resentiug the dominant party in each Moh-
archy. They deliberate apart, each questioning
the three Ministers for the Whole Empire and
voting on resolutions at its own pleasure
Where there Is u disagreement messages are
exchanged and second vote is taken, and II the
divergence OF views remains plenary session
is held, the Emperor King having the casting
vote. Now no such disagreement has arisen
in the present instance. The Delegations nave
received their sOvereign's address with the
customary signs of loyalty and are quietly de-
batng the budgets. The Hungarian Delega-
ton. which invariably evnces hostility to Rus
sin. has acted with moderation and offered very
slight resistance to Count Kalnokys diplomatic
nolicy. The warlike declaration must have
been made in the report on the Foreign buuget
presented to the Austrian Delegation, ior llerr
Plener, who is represented as entreatihs tue
Government to avoid anything calculated 10
bring on a campaign, is prominent member OF
fine Cisleithan Reichstag. Now the majority OF
the DELEGATION which has expressed the convlc-
tion that war with Russia is inevitable repre-
sents the Coalition majority of Czechs, Poles
and Catholics in the Reichstag. The minority
which was accorded a liberal representation on
the Budget Committee, Is imbued Wild the anu
Russian feeling and may have been allowed 10
H. 4 Y.lfa-
give expression to it in the report on the dlplo-
matte estimates. The majority of the Delega-
ton is composed largely of Slavs, whose pollt-
ical ideas are derived from Moscow rather thah
Berlin, and consequently it is the section Wnlch
is least apt to adopt a hostile tone toward RuS-
sia. It IA the party with which the former Am
bassador TO St. Petersburg has acted since he
became Minister of Foreign Affairs, for as
member of the feudal aristOcracy OF Mortvla
his political cor victions ale affected by family
prejudice and social ties.
It must not be forgotten, moreover. that
while the Delegations have the privilege OF
cross-examining the Ministers for the Whole
Empire, the sOyeregns influence in diplo-
macy is supreme. lie is invariably allowed to
have his own way when the rival claims OF
Cabinets, Parliaments, MOnarchies and races
cannot he reconciled. Neither the HunSarans
nor the Austrian Germans were anxious TO deal
with another nation OF Slavs, yet Bosnia was
occupied. IL was the Emperor Kings personal
policy, and under the nicely balanced dualistic
system he was able to enforce it. His will has
Invariably been the controlling force in the di-
plomacy of the Empire, and the Minister OF For
eign Affairs is bis personal representative as well
as the practical administrator who Is expected to
regulate the complex apparatus OF Delega-
tons, Parliaments, Diets, Ministries and par
ties The Emperor Kings addresses to the
Delegations are more important, therefore, IN a.
diplomatic sense, than the responses which are
made to them. The tone of his recent address
was distinctivoly pacific. He referred with
warmth to the friendly relations of the Empire
with all the Powers as in every way satisiac-
tory and subject for rejoicing. In discussing
the Egyptian question he gave the most reas-
surlng account of the peaceful tendencies OF the
time and the wisdom and moderation of the
members of the European system. The Bosni-
an disturbances were discussed with unwonted
frankness, and in the whole address there was
not single word to excite apprehension. The
horizon was clear and III every direction there
was a far-reaching prospect of peace. The
Committee of the Austrian Delegation which
has abruptly declared war with Russia to be in
evitable has expressed a conviction for which
there is not the slightest warrant in the address
of the sOveregn-a sovereign whose will is in
variably supreme il the diplomacy Of the
Empire.
UnQnestionably ustra-Hungary ard Russia
are rivals in Southeastern Europe. Under the
treaty of Berlin each secured an advanced posi-
ton, and the alliances of the Slay natiOndities
are with one or the Other-Sergia and ROunlania
with Vienna, Bulgaria and Montenegro with
st. Petersburg. Rivals they are and must re-
main, and neither can advance in the direction
of COnstantnOple without mourning the others
resentment. But there is nothing to indicate
that either Vienna or ST. Petersburg is in readi-
ness for an advance. Bosnia is barely paced
and would rise in revolt behind an invading
army. Russian finances are in so hopeless
state that another campaign would seem to be
out of the question. During the last decade the
expenditure has been 40 per cent above the in
come, and the public debt has become utterly
unnanageable. So ill-prepared for campaign
are these rival States that in a sudden emer-
gency compromise would be moro probable
than the war which the Austrian Delegation
considers inc vitabe. There is promise OF
peace in the East rather than menace of war.
TIE NATIONAL ACADEMY