New-York tribune., 1908-10-25
TRUSTEES or THE PEACE or EUROPE TODAY
Some of the Guiding Hands
in the Present East
ern Crisis.
rentvood Company.l

TCopyright. 1905 by the Brentwood Companyl
Events are moving so rapidly in the southeast
OF Europe. each day bringing its quota Of new
developments, that it is difficult TO present any
bird 's-eye view of the actual situation. The lat
ter is likely to undergo a complete change at
any moment and, while strenuous efforts are
being made 10 avert the threatened outbreak OF
war il cannot be denied that peace is tottering
on the brink Of an international confagration
the extent OF which ii is Impossible TO foretell.
Indeed the present crisis in connection with the
Balkans may be Hkened TO the state Of affairs
which exists when the afr in the neighborhood
Of some great powder ma gazine is filed with
1nyriads OF sparks, any one Of which is sufficient
10 preciptate explosion.
Under the circumstances, the best that can
be done toward facilitating the understanding Of
the irnbroglio is TO give here q brief sketch of
some Of the statesmen who as Foreign Ministers
Of the great powers Of the Old World are Just
at present the most important actors in the re-
vfsed twentieth century version Of the familiar
old drama known TO our grandfathers by the
name Of the Eastern question.
Treating as a mere curtain raiser comedietta
the assumption by Ferdinand of Bulgaria at
Tirnovo OF the kingIy crown, which he ordered
fifteen years ago from a jeweller at Munich,
who exhibited il in his shop window there
pending the settlement of his suit for acceptance
OF delivery and payment for the bawble, there
IS doubt that the principal role in the play
itself belongs to Baron Lexa Won Aerenthal,
who as Minister Of Foreign Affairs at Vienna is
Entrusted with the mana cement OF the interna-
1fonal relations of the Dual Empire For II is he
who by means Of the announcement Of his
.overeign's annexation OF the provinces OF Herze-
Eovina and Bosnia in fragrant violation of the
terms OF the Treaty OF Berlin. may be said
have started the present international crisis.
THREW THE FIREBAND.
At the time when he was selected to succeed
Count Goluchowsh as Minister Of Foreign AZ
fairs Of Austria and Of Hungary. two
years ago. he was filing the post Of Ambassa-
cor a. st. Petersburg, where nearly the whole
of his diplomatic career has been spent He
was regarded as a warm friend OF Russia and
rs an ardent champion OF the policy OF per-
feet understanding with the latter, tending
toward the eventfui absorption Of all the
Balkan states and OF Turkeys European
provinces By the Muscovite and Austrian eu1l
pires. IN equal shares, 20 the exclusion Of all
other powers. That an agreement TO this effect
and this basis existed from 1901 onward be-
tween Vienna and st. Petersburg. is a matter
OF official record. and Archduke Francis Ferdl-
nand. the Austrian heir presumptive, was known
10 be committed TO the project
Whether this understanding still exists Is a
matter for speculation. which can be solved only
by time. Perhaps II has been abandoned by
Austria IN consequence OF Russa's treaties OF
last year with England. which look toward
equal rights OF all the great powers in the East
question, as exemplihed in the scheme for
the international administration OF the Turkish
province cs Macedonia If this is the case we
may expect TO see Russia throw down the gaunt-
let 10 Austria, IL the latter responds to the in
tense provocations which she is receiving from
6ervis and Montenegro. by invading and seizinE
the territories OF these respective states r. on
the Other hand. Russia snd Austria are still in
perfect agreement, they at the time
when Aerenthal assumed Office Minister Of
Foreign Affairs at Vienna, then the annexation
Of Bosnia and Herzegovina ana the possible in
vasicn OF 6ervia and Montenegro by Emperor
Francis Joseph may be merely the commence
ment Of the execution OF the project OF the two
empires IN question for the absorption OF the
Balkans TO the exclusion Of the other powers
That this possibility is by no means remote is
shown by the cable dispatches OF the last few
days. which indicate that King Ferdinand has
suddenly made q volte-face toward Turkey, is
moving heaven and earth 10 conciliate her, has
made the most complete concession TO the Sub
lime Porte in the matter Of the Oriental Rail-
road line seizure and has dispatched his most
trusted agents 10 Corlstaninople for the purpose
of endeayoring at all costs 10 negotiate an Of
fensive and defensive alliance with the Sultan
FEARS RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA
Why would an alliance OF this kind De nec.s
sz-y unless Ferdinand felt that Bulgaria and
Turkey were threatened by common dznger7
Es knows full well that Austria has no designs
for herself upon Bulgaria But he is aware that
Russia has always regretted that Bulgaria.