The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
CLOUDS In BALKANS
Situation in District Nay
Lead to European War.
RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA CLASH
Interests of These Two Powers in
Direct Coufiict-France Backs the
CEar, While Kaiser Is with Aus
tris-EnEIand Neutral, but Watch
ing Developments with Interest.

London. Feb. 29-The situation in the
Balkans az the present moment is one
Of grave danger TO the peace OF Europe.
The question OF the building OF the
Sandjak Railway line by Austria, a
scheme 10 which France and Russia are
bitterly opposed. has developed into an
important international affair. In ST.
Petersburg especially ii Is much resented.
The publication OF the German ambas-
sador's proposal TO postpone the Joint
note 20 Turkey and the emphasis laid by
Baron Won Aehrenthal on Austria friend
ship for Germany have had the effect Of
pouring oil on the flames OF the political
fire in the Russian capital The Novoe
Nremya gives clear utterance TO Russian
views in a leader entitled End OF the
MurzteZ Programme Abiding 10 the
German ambassadors suggestion. the
journal expresses surprise that Germany
and not Turkey, should have made il.
The journal concludes with the affirma-
ton that Turkey may have sold Mace
donia TO AUSTRIA but the Slavs will take
heed that the ware is never delivered
The first secretary Of the Austrian en-
bassy assured Russia press men to-day
that Austria had a perfect right to OBJ
tain a concession for the Mitrovitza Rail-
way without the cognizance of Russia.
To this Russians reply. YES. and we have
a perfect right TO withdraw the conf
dence reposed in Austrias loyalty. 10
recognize the fact that German designs
clash with SIav interests. and to draw
the practical conclusions"
Feeling In Austria.
Advices from Vienna indicate that the
utterances Of the Russian press against
the Austro- Hungarian Railway project in
the sandjak of Mitrovitza. and especially
the attacks of the Paris press, form the
chief subject OF discussion here. Sur
prise IS caused in authoritative quarters
that the French press attacks against the
railway project should be even more viO-
lent than the Russian, as French inter-
ests are in no way affected by the line.
The views of the Vienna foreign Office are
given in the following lines:
The campaign in the French press
against the plan which fails TO touch in
any manner French interests. and does
not disturb the relations between our
monarchy and Russia. gives the impress
sion OF an intrigue. It appears that the
Chauvinistic party in Russia is again
moving, and has won over part Of the
French press as its allies. France can
certainly derive no profit from this atti-
tude. but only weaken the sympathies
which she at present universally. and
without opposition, enjoys IN Austria
Hungary"
1t is also seni-officially stated in Vienna
that R commission composed OF six Eu-
rOpean and Turkish engineers viii soon
arrive at Mitrovitza to commence the
preparatory work for the railway II
must. therefore. be recognized that the
! lAustro-Hungarian government Is deter
mined upon the realization OF its plans.
even at the risk Of seeing the Balkan
agreement with Russia collapse This
latter contingency may. indeed, be reck-
oned with as probable.
1t appears that the Russian government
has also just demanded a concession from
the Sultan for building railway from the
Danube 10 the Adriatic. This line is in
10 the Montenegrin coast at Antivari OF
Dulcigno, on the Adriatic. Some of the
papers state that this Russian project
will strangle the Sandjak line by diverg-
! ing to the southwest the traff1c for which
Austria is striving.
In this fight Germany Is behind Austria
and viii give her every aid in return for
Austria's friendship during the confer
ence on Morocco.
As England Views II.
In the iSouse of Commons on Wednes-
day night Sir Edward Grey. secretary for