The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-09
Is Austria Turning Against Germany ?

Is Austria turning Against uetihany
It is not surprising that the German
newspapers should evince good deal OF
annoyance at the speech made on Saturday
by Count KALNoKY. the Austro-Hungarian
Minister Of Foreign Affairs At the very
time when Kaiser WILLIAM and his Chan
cellor are trying to convey the impression
that a great European war may break out
at any moment, and that consequently the
German army must be strengthened. the
chief adviser Of the HAPsBuRa sovereign
declares that the prospects Of peace are
bright. and adds that the change in the
situation Is due to signal improvement in
the relations Of Austria and Russia. 1t is
impossible for the German Government to
construe such an utterance at such time
as friendly act. and the misgiving is ex-
cited that the statesmen Of Vienna and
Buda- Pesth are growing tired Of the Triple
Alliance. and contemplate the eventual
adoption Of q different programme.
It Is well known that the heir Of the HAPs-
BURG monarchy is a bitter enemy Of the
HoHENzoLLEBNs. He cannot forgive the
Prussians for reconstructing the German
Confederation on the principle Of excluding
all the German and Bohemian subjects OF
the House Of Austria. However. the reign
ing Emperor, FRANCIS JOSEPH. has been
hitherto supposed to adhere firmly to the
policy which BISMARCK persuaded him to
accept. But BISMARCK is no longer there
to convince him that the interests OF his
dynasty should prompt him to cooperate
rather with the victors Of Sadowa than with
the Russians who rescued him from the
Hungarian revolutionists in 1s49. The eyes
Of the HAPsBuRa Kaiser may have been
opened to the fact that the German
empire has more to gain than has Austria.
from the Triple Alliance. The national
unity Of Germany will be staked In the i'm
pending war. unless the Austro- Hungarian
monarchy can be relied upon to prevent the
Gar from attacking the Germans on the
east. while the latter are mainly engaged
In dealing with the French. The neutrality
Of Austria ut such juncture might prove
as fatal to Germany as 1t was in 1870 to
France.
On the other hand. Austria has. in no wise.
proflted during the last fifteen years. by
her intimate relations with the German en-
pire. She has practically submitted to play
second fiddle to that power. and her sole re-
ward has been the great aggregation OF her
military burdens. When the Congress of
Berlin In 1878 allowed the Austrians to oc-
cupy Bosnia and the Herzegovina, it was
believed at Vienna that the annexed prov
inces would. with German assistance. be
made the nucleus OF large accession OF ter
ritory. including Salonica. and amounting to
the whole western half Of the Balkan PENN
sula. Those hopes have been disappointed,
and. at this moment. Austrian influence has
less weight In the Danubian principallties
than 1t had ten years ago. The only addi-
tional territory surrendered by the Sultan
has fallen. not to Austria but to Bulgaria;
and an anita ustrian party is dominant at
Bucharest and at Belgrade. Judging by
the past. the Vienna statesmen must recog-
nlze that the future expansion Of their
country southwark cannot. or will not DO
effcctually furthered by their German al
lies. Would 1t not be we'll. then. to
renounce q compact which. as time has
shown. involves no substantial considera-
ton for one Of the parties? Is there not
much more to be hoped for from such
an understanding with Russia as might
lead to an equitable partition OF the
Sultan's European possessions Even adj
hitting that the Cars share would in
clude Constantinople. is 1t not wiser to let
him take it, and accept Salonica by way OF
makeweight. than to face contingencies in
which Austria might get absolutely moth
ingf Why. at all events. should state OF
things continue In which Austrla's position
In the Balkans grows weaker daily, while
she Is taxing herself to death. In order to
shield the rear OF Germany when the latter
power has her death grapple with France
There are only three ways In which the
HAPsBURa monarchy can look for extern
sion. One. as We have said, is in the Bal
kans. where Russia could help her. but
where Germany has proved to be either
perfdlous or powerless. The second Is In
northern Italy. where. II King HUMBERT
had to depend upon himself. the Austrians
could easily recover Lombardy and vene-
tia. The third means OF HAPsBURa expan- |
sion would be the detachment OF the South |
German States from Prussia and their in |
cluslon In new confederation. In both OF |
the last-named directions. the Triple ALI |
ance Is obviously bar to Austrian reha-
Utilization. In u word. 1t Is Germany that |
profits most. II not exclusively. by the Goa
lition OF the three central powers. Italy
would not need to lean upon 1t. should she |
revert TO her old friendship with France;
and Austria Il seriously trammellsd by 1t, |