Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
GIVES WAY TO PRESSURE
Emperor Francis Joseph Demands
Maintenance of Peace.
OBJECTION TO RECKLESS POLICY
Movement to Translate Present
Triple Entente Into Full Anglo
French-Russian Alliance.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
LONDON. December 12.-After two
months of obstinacy and dangerous delay
there are tangible signs now visible that
Austria hungary may show herself annie
able to the first principles of international
law. Her repentance is Of that unsats-
factory kind which is produced only by
compulsion, still she is giving way under
pressure and that Is the main thing.
There has been practical confirmation Of
last weeks report that Emperor Francis
Joseph is determined to reassert his au-
thority, at least on the point OF the
maintenance of peace. His future sue
cessor may pursue an adventurous policy
II he chooses. but not to the extent OF
going to war during the life Of the pres
ent sovereign. Germany also. while pub
licly proclaiming her dutiful loyalty to
her ally, has been privately urging mod
Grafton at Vienna and pointing out the
obvious untenability of the Austrian atti-
tude toward Turkey. Even Baron Aeren-
thai. the Austrian minister OF foreign af-
fairs, obtuse and arrogant as he is has
been compelled to realize his diplomatic
position toward n private boycott of
Austrian goods in Turkey, which is with
out any justification.
Protests Against Reckless Policy.
Domestic protests throughout the dual
monarchy against the reckless policy OF
the government continue to grow stronger
and more insistent. National sympathy
has also been excited by the severe suf-
ferings from cold and hunger among the
2Oo,Uo troops rushed to the southern
frontiers without adequate provision
against the severe climate.
All these influences, combined with the
emperor's stern veto. compelled even
Baron Aerenthal, intolerant as he is to
give way. and he Is preparing in a some
what sulky spirit to reopen negotiation
with Turkey without further reference TO
the boycott His consent to discuss the
question of the annexed provinces by
written correspondence with the powers
as preliminary to a possible conference
not, to say the least, a gracious con-
cession. 1t means indefinite delay.
English. French and Russian diplo-
matists agree that a failure to reach a
weather comes again would involve grave
perils. All depends, therefore, on the
spirit with which Austria enters upon the
execution Of her latest suggestion.
II the war party in Austria Is simply
playing for time and its possible contin-
gencies. then the present concession is
more apparent than real. The usual rule
that delay makes for peace is reversed in
the present situation.
May Translate Triple Entente.
There has been some talk this week, es-
pecially in the French press. Of translat-
ing the present triple entente into full
Observation-Disclosures alliance. It is prob
able and indeed strongly to be hoped
that there is no truth in these rumors.
The chief virtue of the present UNDER
standing between these powers is that dts
terms are not technically binding. There
is more moral value and more practical
strength in these days In a voluntary en-
tente than in formal treaty. A treaty
binds governments only and sometimes
it's bonds are irkSome. An entente binds
both governments and peoples and when
its essential element OF friendship dis
appears then a treaty would be Of little
value.
Europe has furnished two striking DEM
onstrations of both these points within a
month. The bitterness now existing be-
tween Austria and Italy is example
of the negative value OF treaty obliga-
tons. When France feared that she
would become the victim of German ag-
gression a month ago the British govern
ment offered to support her with all the
resources OF the empire and the board
people, if they had been consulted. would
have unanimously approved the govern
mentS position.