New-York tribune., 1907-10-10
THE AUsGLE1CH AND THE HAGUE.

The agreeable announcement is made that the
Ausgleich, or joint settlement of the imperial
budget between Austria and Hungary has at
last been renewed 1t was signed on Tuesday
Thus is ended crisis which has lasted for
ten years and which at times has seemed omi-
nous of war and has strained almost to the
breaking point the constitutional systems of
the two monarchies and of the dual realm
First formed under the guidance of Deak in
1861 the Ausgleich was renewed every ten
years until 1897. when the two governments
failed to agree upon terms of renewal and the
agreement lapsed. No fewer than seven times
during these ten years the polite and cOncliatory
sovereign has personally intervened with die
tatiOn of temporary terms of compromise, en-
abng the functions Of the dual government to
be continuously exercised. Down To a few
weeks ago both parties seemed as obstinate as
ever and there was little prospect of agree
ment. But at the last largely through the
influence of the sovereign and his heir presump
tive, the Magyars were Modified by an amend
ment to their constitution giving their county
governments increased independence of the
Crown, and so the Ausgeich was renewed after
ten years hiatus. Now each country can ratify
and put into effect its new commercial treaties
with other lands, and the affairs of the dual
monarchy will go on smoothly for another ten
years.
This is a cOnsummation upon which both
Austria and Hungary are to be congratulated.
1t affords, also, a suggestive object lesson to
those who impatently clamor for the congress
at The Hague to readjust in a single session
the relations among all the nations Of the globe
and TO fix permanently the terms of all their
international dealings Austria and Hungary
have been intimately associated for centuries.
For forty years they have had a working bust
Iiy1. nai- int flXy
Identical and largely similar. The Emperor Of
the one is the King of the other They main
tain armies and fleets in common. They have
in both war and peace the strongest of reasons
for standing together. Yet it has taken them
ten years-ten years filed with earnest pains
taking diplomacy-to agree upon the terms on
which they shall renew a partnership which
had lasted for thirty years, and one which in
no way involved the dignity, honor, integrity
or independence of either, but had to do with
nothing but routine business matters.
IL il was so long and so difficult task to ad-
just their affairs. what must we expect it to
be 10 determine relationships among other ma
/ tions of vastly more antagonistic interests and
ambitions. and relationships which transcend
mere money matters and directly touch the
most vital interests Of national sovereignty? 1t
is not. perhaps. easy for Americans, living in
such geographical and diplomatic isolation as
this country enjoys. 10 realize the complicated
character of the environments and interests of
the European nations and to understand how
circumspect and cautious one of those nations
must be before il commits itself to something
which ii might seem safe enough for America to
accept offhand. 1t is well to work for harmony
! and peace among the nations. and we may
| hope that in time those ends will be attained
But with 80 much wrangling between Austria