Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11


Austria has shown by her abrupt rupture
OF commercial relations with Servia that
there Is a question at stake
Austr1a's with that country other
Interests. than that of the vulgar pig
Austria thus manifests her
ambition to dominate in the Balkans and
asserts her influence over Servia King
Milan In his time was ready instrument
of Austrian aspirations. but since his disap-
pearance from the scene Austria has been
driven to other methods to effect her pur-
pose. To force Servia to bend to her will
Austria has already taken measures to close
her doors on the frontier to the Importation
OF Servian cattle. the consequences of which
may be appreciated from the fact that last
year Servia's expectations aggregated 1884,
aUo animals, principally pigs!
The Hungarian press expresses regret
over the customs war between Austria
Hungary and Servia. and violently attacks
Count Goluchowski as being the author. but
the truth is Hungary will doubtless profit
by the Servian embargo I'm an increased
price for the Hungarian hog at Vienna.
The Servian press is very bellicose, and
the organ Of the government, the Odjek.
which has been silent until now. says that
the customs war. although it may be preju-
dtcfal to Servia in the beginning. will finally
produce the good result ''that 1t will ,jber-
ate Servia economically from Austria-Hun-
gary"
the Odjek. Ito compensate for the interdic-
ton of expectation of pork. The council of
administration of the abattoirs of Belgrade
have decided to augment the capital of the
society and purchase without delay refrig-
orator cars for the transport of meat. The
commercial world estimates the loss by the
closed door to Vienna at 1S.00o,oo0 francs
for the first year. but by reason of the re-
frigerator system the loss will be gradual
~ diminished.
I'm 1897 the ministers Simitch and Storlof
had studied the possibility of a rapproche-
ment between the Balkan states.
THE negotiations were renewed under the
cabinets of Vonitch and Danef. and ended
in 1904 by a postal and telegraphic ar
rangement, accompanied by series OF
royal and pFincely visits, followed soon
after by Servo Montenegrin treaty of
commerce. the preamble of which affirmed
the solidarity of the Balkan states. and
announced other agreements. The Servo
bulgarian customs union, cause of the
actual crisis, is one of these agreements.
an6, there is nothing to prove that 1t Will
be the last. because there is even now un-
der consideration an agreement with Rou-
mania.
ut Is natural that Austria should fear
the consequences of combinations of this
character. and that the Balkanfc Trip
lice which has been mentioned several
times, may appear to her a menace.
But it Is more natural still that the Bal
kan states should see in these combinI-
tons the future guarantee of their political
autonomy
1.-The Balkans for the Balkan people.
said NJ. Mienko Wessnitch, minister of
Scrvia at Paris. is the principle which
attests the solidarity of Sofia and Belgrade
against the brutalities of Vienna
The history of Servia during the nine
tenth century shows the march of tho
nation toward national
Servian independence: this idea
Independence. was so powerful that 1t
gained complete tri-
umph in ISIS at the congress at Berlin
and this. too. in spite of their divisions and
fratricidal strifes. Obrenovitch and Kara
georgevitch, all Of them, prince and peas
ant either pork merchants or descendants
of such, they are still imbued with spirit
of strife. but nevertheless aspire to national
independence. Some idea of this spirit may
be gathered from the story of the crown
prince, who recently undertook voyage
outside of Servia incognito; returning he
had the fancy to follow the rail from
Gravosa to Sarajevo to visit Bosnia and
show himself to the people AS We can
understand. Austria looked upon the
eapade with i'll feeling; at the station at
Sarajevo the young man was received by
the authorities, who expressed to him their
| profound regrets at the contretemps but
in all Sarajevo there was not single
room vacant: all those at the hotels had
been retained" 1t only remained for him.
therefore. to take the train he had quilted
and return to Belgrade. We can readily
imagine the severe reprimand which await.
ed the youth. But 1t was not without a
secret joy that the public learned of the
excuse given by the young prince Il
wanted to see my future state
The sentiment of solidarity is latent
among the Servians, whose language is the
same as the Creates. called Bosniac IN
Bosnia, and Is spoken in Servia, Croatia
Dsfmatia. Bosnia, Montenegro. Old Servia-
tstrfa and South Hungary. The alphabet
differs according to the country. The
Creates, Slovenes. Tcheque and Poles
alphabet Is like our own. The Serviaas
employ the Cyrfllfque, but all persons who
have any instruction at all are familiar
With both alphabets in Servia
Unfortunately, side by side with this ele
ment of Balkan rapprochment there are
clements of diseord. Croat ties and Servfans
are brother peoples, but brothers who are
traditional enemieS-the Creates are Ca.a-
olc. the Servians orthodox. Servians and
Bulgarians. too. are separated by the Mace
donian question. The Macedonian hegemony
puts not only the Greeks against Buga-
rians. but Roumaniaps, Bulgarians and
Servians are found face TO face in the
north and northwest of Macedonia. The
mixture of race and religion seems hope
less tangle.
1t is claimed that common interests Will
bind In the Balkans precisely as by
the treaty of commerce between Seryia
and Bulgaria. The young people. students,
professors and others favor a grand fed
Grafton of the Balkan states, and the aues-
ton has already been treated by NJ Malk-
hazonny under the title, lie Panslavisme
eft la Question diOrent.'
The Balkan question has likewise been
treated by NJ. Vico Montegazza in a book
published in 1905 entitled '.PAltra Sponda"
1.-The Other Shore" The writer was asso-
ciated with NJ Montegazza as his colleague
at the exposition al Paris in $780, and can
testify with pleasure to the value of his
opinion. He favors an entente between
Russia and Italy against Austria who is
preparing, according to NJ. Montegazza to
denounce the treaty of 1897 negotiated at
Murzteg. For fact King Peter is In
good relations with the Italian court and
the latter leaves no stone unturned to ex-
tend its influence in the Balkans. whether
in Albania, Montenegro or Dalmatia.
Germany has not overlooked the Balkans.
but aspires to play a grand role there. She
appears for the moment as the arbiter be-
tween Turkey and the powers. In the Bal
kans as in Morocco Germany counts upon
the sultan to secure the place of honor. AL
ready Germanys commerce in Roumania
Is increasing. In Bulgaria. at Sofia,
branch of the Deutsche Bank has been es-
tabIished.
The writer repeats. in American interests.
that the door is wide open in Servia to
American enterprise. genius and capital
but American mettle viii be tested to the
utmost, for Germany stands in the doorway
-.xve.< last