Omaha daily bee., 1908-02-17
VIEW OF FOREIGN OFFICE
Railroad Violates
y Concert.
It Can Now Work Out ~ Policy
in Near East.
WILL GREATLY DELAY REFORMS
Porte VIII Take Advantage of Dis
sensiona 60 Disregard Program
Agreed ON in Mace
donia.
RUSSIA HAS N ~, ZEE HAND

ST PETERSBURG, Feb i6.-Baron Won
Aehrenthal's reiterstion Of the determine
ton Of Austria to build railroad through
Novipazar. a connecting link for the Aus
trian line through Bosnia with the Turkish
line to saloniki. and the announcement by
the German foreign office of its financial
support to this plan. have left no illusions
here regarding the fate Of the agreement
looking TO joint action In the Balkans
negotiated by Emperor Nicholas and En-
peror Francis Joseph at Muerzesteger In
the autumn Of 1903, which was the ground
work Of the subsequent program of reforms
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 minisle efforts to extend ana CON
solidate the Austrian sphere of influence by
a private Bargain with the sultan for the
construction OF the railroad. should be alb
rogated Russia is now left a free hand
to work out It's own policy in the near east
Negotiations are still being conducted to
the end OF inducing Austria to withdraw
its 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 groupingi 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.
Outlook IL Dark.
The detection Of such an important power
as Austria, Which on account OF it's geo.
graphical position. shared with Russia the
leading role in the efforts to settle the
Macedonian problem. renders the outlook
dark Since the seriousness of the Russian
opposition to Austrias plans has become
evident hints have been thrown out from
Vienna that Russia and Italy, as the pow
ers most directly interested, would be al
lowed In the way OF compensation to con-
struct railroad lines, Italy one through
Albania and Russia a line from the Danube
10 the Adriatic sea. Both powers, however,
decline to accept this proposal.
The Russian ambassador to- Turkey, N.
zinovieff. at a lengthy audience with the
sultan on Friday, submitted Russia's OBJ
jectlons to the construction of the proposed
railroad. which, 1t is confidently expected
here, will result In the postponement of the
Austrian project,
The impression that Austria is acting
with the full cognizance and support Of
Germany which has been confirmed by
formal statements given out by German
government officials has resulted in an
outburst OF anger against that country
affecting all circles of the Russian press
and public This antagonism is felt with
especial force in the army, where It is
believed Teutonlc influences are back of
Turkish activity of the Perso- Russian
frontier. which again has assumed menac-
ing phase.
VIII Delay Reforms.
PARIS. Feo l5-The interjection OF
rivalry between the nations on the Balkan
question at a moment when 1t would seem
essential that the powers should present a
united front to compel the porte to apply
the Macedonian reforms is regarded here
as extremely unfortunate. While it is too
early to assume that this means a complete
rupture OF the European concert, 1t has
created divisions and suspicious among the
powers, of which the porte is sure to take
advantage TO the detriment Of the Chris
tians in Macedonia.
The Novipazar-Saloniki concession is con-
sidered here to be of fHr-reaohng import
ance and more of a German than an Aus
trisn triumph, as It extends Austro- German
influence to the AEGEAN sea and furnishes
the connecting link for the Bagdad railway
with Asia minor.
Denial by German Ambassador.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16-Cablegrams
from London and St. Petersburg recently
published in American newspapers on the
Balkan situation and the North sea treaty
questioning Germany's sincerity with re-
gard to its announced policies regarding
those matters were called to the attention
of Baron Sternberg, the German ambassa.
dor at Washington, today. The ambasss doI
declared the published statements made Il
appear as II Germany is creating trouble
in Europe by refusing TO adhere to the
rules of reform In Macedonia laid down by
the Muerzesteger program. and even hinted
he added. at the existence OF a secret
treaty between Germany, Austria and
Turkey. The ambassadors statement fol
ows:
These statemento are absolutely falls,
and unfounded; no such treaty has ever
been concluded on the contrary. Ger
many win give its fun assistance to an,
steps taken by Austria and RuSsia in ac
cordanee with the 'Muerzesteger program.
The German government further agrees
In principle, with the judicial reform IA
vored by England and has directed Il,
representative at Constantinople to sign I
new collective note to the Sublime Porte
with regard to the railway concessions IT
the Balkans, a question started exclusivel,
by the Austrian government, Germany Il
doing its best to relieve the tension which
has arisen through the question, betweer
Austria and Russia, and has done so will
every promise OF success. Germany con
: siders the extension Of the railway sys
tenn in the Balkans a most important fac
tor in aiding the progress OF civilization II
parts OF the globe where II is especially
needed"