Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
Francis Joseph Firm Against
Austrian War Party.
CONFLICT WITH MINISTER
Old Monarch Known to Have In
sisted on Pacific Policy.
HOME TROUBLES THREATEN
Riots at Prague, With Consequent
Martial Law, Cause Of Serious
Condition in Empire.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON, December 5.-There Is no
diminution In the critical Importance
of the European political situation, but
1t has lost all spectacular interest. For
the time being its developments are not
disclosed and it appears to the outside
world that nothing is being done. Such
is far from being the fact. as will pres
emily transpire. An important struggle
is taking place in Austria and much
hangs on the issue.
The announcement which 1t was semi
officially declared Emperor Francis
Joseph would make at his jubilee to
the effect that the details of his duties
had been transferred to his heir Ferdi-
nand was not made. On the contrary.
Austria's yelled ultimatum to Turkey. in
the shape of the threatened withdrawal
of her ambassador. was allowed to lapse
and the aggressive attitude Of the dual
monarchy was considerably modified. II
IS an open secret that this change
is due to the aged emperor's insistence
ON more pacific policy. It Is known
also that the emperor is greatly dis
turbed at the recent course of events.
He is quoted as saying that he has been
grossly deceived regarding the probable
eign Minister Aerenthal and their true
significance. He is completely opposed
to war under any circumstances, but he
finds himself under serious disabilities
when he seeks to make his will effective.
He has already relinquished so many of
his prerogatves that he finds it almost
impossible to resume full control.
Fighting With His Advisers.
Friends Of Baron Aerenthal tell him
he cannot remove or repudiate that ag-
gressive individual without making the
country ridiculous before the world and
the usual diplomatic principle Is held up
before him. according to which no nation
under any circumstances must ever ac
knowledge itself to have been in the
wrong.
1t is painful spectacle this struggle
between the righteous old monarch and
mandsng to have their own way by one
means or another. They have yielded
to him outwardly on the point Of his
insistence regarding Turkey. but they
have begun fresh aggressive buster to-
ward the two Servian states. which have
behaved with entire self-restraint In the
past two or three weeks. Minister
Aerenthars bellcose talk about teach
ing them a lesson in the spring Is so
obviously provocative and his theatrical
increase Of troops on the frontiers SO
evidently designed to cause fresh irrita-
ton that 1t is generally feared that he
is deliberately seeking to commit the aged
sovereign to a dilemma of which no
peaceful solution is possible.
Despite these sinister maneuvers there
is growing confidence in diplomatic
circles generally that peace will be main
tanned. The Turkish Bulgarian relations
are no longer threatening and Servia
and Montenegro will remain quiet so long
as chance remains that a European
Austria is also beginning TO find serious
distraction In her internal situation. The
riots at Prague this week were sympto-
matte and threatening. The proclamation
Of martial law has created a curious
situation.
Resort to Medieval Law.
The conditions of the state of siege
are strangely medieval A court OF first
instance acts as a court of summary
procedure with military protection. The
executoner with his assistants must be
within the precincts Of the court. All
persons arrested whose guilt appears to
be evident must be brought before the
summary court a proceeding which must.
so far as possible be carried through
without interruption. If the four judges
composing the court unanimously recOg-
nize the guilt Of the accused sentence
of death must be passed and executed
within three hours. An appeal is not
admissible, and only after one or more
ample can a tribunal admit extenuating
circumstances in minor cases and inf1ict
penal servitude for terms Of five to twen-
ty years.