The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-15
Vienna Merchants Who Do Larg&
Business With Bulgaria Say
Excitement Is Fictitious.
OPTIMISTIC VIEW GENERALl
Some Pessimists There Are VINO
Say Present Situation Is An
alogous to That Which Pre-
ceded War of 1S1I-7S.

SPECIAL. BY CABLE TO THE NEW YONNB
HERALD AND THE ST. LOUIS
Vienna, Feb. H.-(Copyright. 1s03)-As the
most sensitive thermometer of public opins,
ion is that of and finance. I havo
to-day interviewed numerous groups OK
business men and bankers having interests
and constant dealings with the Balkan
States.
] am compelled to admit that the results
Of the Investigations have not been con-
elusive, for. although many Of those guess
toned manifested an unshakabie optimisms
as many others were equally firm IN theiR
expressed belief that a conflict between Bull
garia and Turkey at the very least is weig
nigh a certainty.
As representatives of the former group, I
may quote opinion of Matthias Russo, the
head of an important firm in the Turken
Strasse. His business house has large deal
ings with the Balkan States and. conse-
quently. is In unbroken communication with
every class in that disturbed region which
would be the first to snow signs Of anx-
iety il the outlook were really threateninEs
FICTITIOUS EXCITEMENT.
IT have good reason to believe" said Mr.
Russo. "that the present excitement is pure-
ly fictitious. There has been do diminution
of business resulting from the agitation of
the past NV days. The idea of war be-
tween B13ria and Turkey is SO extrava-
CANT as be absurd. Sor every Bull
garian available. a score of Turkish soldiers
would be forthcoming"
B a similar train of reasoning" / re-
marked. war between Spain and th0
United States was impossible, yet it took
place for all that"
Granted" replied NJ. Russo. but. in the
~~.1or$ oaoa ~ -nlx- e. D,,I- IL
in the maintenance Of peace. but Russia.
Austria. and, in fact, the European Powers
generally, are determined 1t shall be MAIN
tanned. In proof Of what / have said as to
the little real effect this newspaper agita-
tion has had upon business. I may point
the last two days. and Turkish railways
also show an upward tendency"
The excitement, 1 repeat, is superficial
up to the present, and. though / certainly
refuse to attempt to predict the ultimate
result Of it all. my personal opinion Is that
diplomacy will prove competent to regulate
the difficulty, and that hostilities will be
obviated."
ANOTHER VIEW. az
As typical of those whom I have seen
that are inclined to take a gloomy view Of
the situation, I may Instance Mime. Schoet-
ter and Russo, q firm in the Greicherstrasse.
which does a large business in cotton tex
tiles with the Balkans.
This house, it is true. does not transact
its principal trade with Bulgarian firms
but this fact only adds significance TO the
statement of NJ. Schroeder. that he has re-
ceived several letters within the last few
days from Sofia and elsewhere. canceling
orders previously given
He remarked that the present situation
bore a strong resemblance to that prevailing
in 1872, when the population of Herzegovina
gave the signal for a movement that erded
in the war of 1S77-7S between Russia md
Turkey. Then, as now, armed bands were
operating. and talk Of reforms was in the
air. Rrmors of the mobilization Of troops
and denlals of those rumors succeeded one
another daily.
This recollection probably disposed him
I'd be pessimistic with regard to the Mace
DOMAIN agitation.
Still. as tending perhaps to show that
even in Bulgaria the public confidence II
not entirely shaken. he added that. to coun-
terbalance those Cancelled. his house had
received some important orders from Bull
garian firms. who take a hopeful view OF
the situation, and who are thus making
preparations to secure an advantage ovee
their more timid competitors.
SITUATION EXAGGERATED.
The conviction created by many inquiries
in this direction. in fact, is that the out
look is by no means SO lurid as some jour
nails make 1t. The Neue Freie Prssse. in its
evening issue last night, published an
agency dispatched from Constantinoplo
which reduces the rumored Turkish
mobilization to a conference at Yaldiz
Kiosk. when mere routine details with ref
erence TO the reuniting Of separated de-
tachments were decided.
Commenting upon this cablegram, the
Neue Freie Presse says:
The whole increase of troops occasloned
by these measures cannot exceed 10. 900 men.
Moreover. as the headquarters of this force
Is at Petrisch, nearly eighty kilometers
from the Bulgarian frontier. the increase Of
troops cannot be considered as a thrca. to
Bulgaria"