The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-17
REARRANGING NEW GROUP OF POWERS Violation of Austro Russian Macedonian Agreement
 May Result in New
 Coalition. ENGLAND JOINS RUSSIA Detection of Austria. With Backing of Germany. in Near East Policy
 Renders the Outlook Dark.
ENGLAND JOINS RUSSIA

St. Petersburg, Feb. l6.-- Baron Won Aehrenthal's reiteration of the deter minaticn of Austria to build a railroad through Novipazarasa connecting link for the Austrian line through Bosnia with the Turkish line to Saloniki, and tho announcement by the German fo.- eign office of its financial support to this plan have left no illusions here re- garang the fate of the agreement look ing to joint action in the Balkans. ne- gotia.eu by Emperor Nicholas and Elm peror Francis Joseph at Muerzsteg in the autumn of 1903, which was the ground work of the subsequent pro- gram of refol ms in Macedonia.
 The attitude of the Russian foreign office as learned through an inspired press is that the agreement. which is regarded as already violated in spirit by the Austrian foreign minister's ef- forts to extend and consolidate tho Au- stran sphere of influence by private bargain with the sultan for the con structicn of the railroad, should be abrogated Russia is now left a free hand to work out her own policy in the Near East. Negotiations are still be- ing conducted to the end of inducing Austria tc withdraw her railroad scheme, but no hope of their success is held out on either the Austrian or the Russian side. The principal efforts at present are being devoted to arranging a new grouping of the powers. 1t being thought here that Russia and Great Britain might enter into an agreement for joint action in Macedonia and that these two powers would be supported by France. and perhaps by Italy
 The defection of such an important power as Austria which, on account of her geographical position, shared with Russia the leading role in the efforts to settle the Macedonian prob lems. renders the outlook dark. Since the seriousness of the Russian opposi- ton to Austrias plans has become ev- ident. hints have been thrown out from Vienna that Russia and Italy, as the powers most directly interested. would be allowed in the way of com pensation to construct railroad lines, Italy one through Albania and Russia a line from the Danube to the Adriatic sea. Both powers, however, decline to accept this proposal.
 The Russian ambassador to Turkey, NJ. Zincvieff. at a lengthy audience with the sultan on Friday submitted Russia's objections to the construction of the proposed railroad, which. it is iconfdently expected here will result in the pcstponement of the Austrian pro l ject
 The impression that Austria is act l ing with the full ccgnizance and sup port of Germany. which has been con- drmed by formal statements given out l bv German government officials. has resulted in an outburst of anger
 against that country affecting all cir l cIes of the Russian press and public
 This antagonism is felt with especia force in the army where it is believed Teutonic influences are back of Turk ish activity on the Perso Russian
 frontier which again has assumed ;
 menacing phase.
 Vienna. Feb. l6.-Despite offieia
 assurance that harmony has been re
 established between Austria and Rus
 sia. the situation arising from tn
 question of railway concessions in tn Balkans has not lost it's tension. Keith
 CT the foreign office nor the Russia,
 Embassy. is concealing the fact tha
 the action of Baron Aehrenthal. tn . Austrian foreign minister, has cause | a deep concern in St. Petersburg.