New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-22
THE REAL AIM IN. THE BALKANS.

The progress and development of affairs in the
Balkans must be regarded as strongly confirm
ing the suggestion of the distinguished Serb
statesman and patriot, Prince Lazarovich-Hre-
belianovich. made recently IN The Tribune's
foreign correspondence, that commercial con-
sderations are paramount in the plans of Aus
tria- Hungary. and that her real aim Is TO full
fl her long cherished dream Of securing Sa-
lonica for an outlet upon Leyantine seas II
has long been an open secret that Austrian eyes
were fixed upon that ancient city, and that her
ambitions and desires concerning II played
large part in the diplomacy of Southeastern Eu-
rope Hence the recent proposals for the con
struction of railroad through Novi Bazaar, and
hence also, 1t is TO be suspected, her seizure
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the moral and
material pressure which she is endeavoring
10 exert upon Servia.
1t Is true that concurrently with her seizure
Of the two provinces she has apparently been
compelled TO relinqulsh the special privileges
which she has hitherto enjoyed IN Novi Bazaar,
and from one point of view that might seem TO
mean that she had lost as much as she had
gained For Novi Bazaar is an essential part of
the route from Bosnia to Salonica and in losing
direct control of that sandjak she might seem
10 have lost an Indispensable part of the right
Of way which she is seeking. Moreover Novi
Bazaar lies directly between Servia and Mon
tenegro and should it be incorporated with
either of those countries, or be divided between
them, there would be an alien barrier clear
across the Balkan Peninsula TO prevent Aus
tris-Hungary's further progress toward the
Egean.
Such a view of the situation would, however,
be superficial and would overlook the pivotal
fact recalled by Prince Lazarovich that the
greatest strategic point in the whole Balkan
Peninsula is the Seryi8n city of Nish, where
from earliest antiquity the great highroads of
trade travel between Europe and the Orient
have met and crossed. There would be little
gain for the Dual Realm In merely extending
the Bosnian railroad down through Now Bazaar
TO Mitrovitza. That could scarcely ever be
made the hghroad 10 SalOnica. Travel from
Europe 10 the Orient does not want 10 wander
around through Agram and Bosnia Serai. but
TO go by way of Vienna Budapest and Bel
grade And 1t is this latter route which runs
directly through Serva to Nish, and there
branches, fork running straight TO Salouica
and the other to Constantinople. Control Of
that route is worth a hundred Novi Bazars and
the Austro- Hungarian purpose seems TO be by
the annexation Of Bosnia TO bring such pressure
10 bear upon Servia as will compel the latter
practically 10 surrender all right OF way across
her territory and let Nish be transformed into
an Austro- Hungarian transfer station and fort
reSS.
In this ambitious design 1t is TO be expected
that the Dual Realm Will not succeed. The
other powers interested in Oriental trade and
politics doubtless realize that as Prince LAxa-
rovich pointed out, for Nish to be In the hands
Of great and aggressive power would be a
perpetual menace 10 ali the rest while for IL
10 remain in the control of q peaceful and non
aggressive Kingdom is a guarantee OF tranquil
lily and equity 10 all. This consideration has
presumably had much weight with Russia and
has largely moved her to give her moral SUD-
port 10 Servia, as a result Of which there is now
a fair prospect of a peaceful adjustment of
the whole controversy and a safeguarding Of
the menaced liberties Of the SerVian Kingdom
1t is noteworthy and gratifying to observe the
extent TO which the moral solidarity of the
Servian race has been demonstrated TO the
world. 1t is now seen that the whole north
western corner of the Balkan Peninsula from
Siavonia TO Albania and from palmatia to