The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-05
CARDS the Austro-Hungarian bank an1
the commercial policy of the empire.

| CARDS the Hungarian bank AMI
| the commercial policy of the empire.
| LONDON, Dec international
questions have been temporarily over
| slladowed by the gravity of the situa-
| ton in Austria where things are as
gloomy as imaginable. In addition to
! the imminence of a civil war, the next
few hours may possibly witness a his
| toric revolution in the relations be-
! tween Austria and Hungary, which
might mean the reconstruction of the
map of Europe. 1t is hardly an exag-
, geratiOn TO say that the factions are
| drawing up like contending armies. The
Germans have appealed to their com
patriots on both sides of the frontier
and are apparently prepared to run all
risks to keep the hated Czechs in sub
lection. The Czechs make no secret of
the fact that their final aim is to abol-
ish the dual empire and make it triple
empire by placing Bohemia on equal
footing with Austria and Hungary. To
grant this demand would set Hungary
on fire and destroy the foundations of
the present imperial system. 1t looks
as though the employment of force is
the only solution of the question; but
against which faction will 1t be used.
The question of the provisional Ausg-
LEIGH bill Eor agreement to prolong for
a year instead of ten years the compact
between Austria and Hungary, pend
ing arrangements for longer comract
is, if possible question more grave
than the threatened civil war. The
Hungarian diet has given Baron Won
Gautsch Won Frankenthurn, the Aus
trian premier, until Monday next in
which to state whether he can reason
ably expect the Auglseich bill to pass
and failing a decisive answer; Baron
Banffy, the Hungarian premier, will
introduce on Monday, a bill, whereby
Hungary Will act Independently as re-
CARDS the duties to be levied. continu-
ance of commercial relations with Aus
tria and the charter of the Austro-
Hungarian bank. The compact be-
tween the two portions of the dual
state thus lapses, ard though the sta
tus quo may be maintained tenn
porariIy, Hungary will establish her
claim to the right of Independently dis
posing of these questions. 1t is easy
to see that victory will only whet the
Hungarians appetite, and that 1t might
be short step to the dissolution of
Austria which in turn win hurl Europe
into a furance of terrible possibilities.
Apparently the only hope of escape
is that the personal ascendancy of the
old emperor will once again enable him
to solve an apparently impossible stu
alton. Failing in this the reichsrath
will be dissolved and reign of abso-
lutism viii begin in Austria and
technically, Hungary will have re-
sumed her independence, the first step
toward federated, as distinct from a
dual. Austro- Hungarian monarchy
The Indian war continues on the old
lines. The British advances and sub
sequent retirements leave but small
impression on the tribesmen who will
not submit. The warfare is discourage
ing as it promises to be inconclusive
and looks as though the results might
be summed up in a nut shell-bloody
war, weakened frontier angered
neighbors humping bill The uncom-
Portable suggestion current that the
British regiments with one or two ex-
ceptions, have gone through the scrim-