Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
WAR CLOUD IS BLACK uL[EY MUST ANSWER
Austrias Policy of Delay Court Competent to Try Him
Source of Peril. for Corrupt Practice.
CRISIS IN FORTNIGHT LAW IS CONSTITUTIONAL
Anthal Will Judge Robinson Rules Question
Yield Avert Hoilies. of Jurisdiction
IS PLAYING DANGEROUS UNIQUE PROCEEDINGS BEGIN
Crowded-Dndans
nifty to Turkey Forced Presen-Proninent
Upon sci Arrayed.
CRISIS IN FORTNIGHT
Hope That Minister Aerenthal Will
Yield to Avert Hostilities.
IS PLAYING DANGEROUS GAME
Settlement by Payment of Indem-
nifty to Turkey May Be Forced
Upon Him.

LONDON, December 26.-The year is
ending with the greatest political Crisis
Of this generation still unsolved.
The natural optimism of the season
tends to make even those best acquainted
with the vast complications of the situa-
tion take the most hopeful view possible
of it's grave dangers. The hour has not
Yet come when the refusal of substantial
concessions would mean immediate war.
When that situation does arise, as
seems probable a few weeks hence, then
the real purpose of those who now
threaten the peace OF the world will be
disclosed.
Even Austria herself. those indi
viduals who today control her policy,
will not choose war when that momentous
responsibility is forced upon her.
The real peril therefore, is the delay
for which they are now responsible.
The spring. If allowed to come without
settlement which will provide some recog
milton of claims of the Serb race. will see
rifles going off of themselves. And that
IS "a danger which no great power can
contemplate without the gravest appre-
hension.
1t would be easy to draw gloomy fore
holdings from Austria's recent attitude
toward Turkey and the other powers.
But tho writer IS not alone in believing
that Baron Aerenthal. the Austrian min
lister of foreign affairs, and his asso-
ciates are indulging In one more bluff in
the hope OF still getting the best of a
diplomatic bargain.
Playing Dangerous Game.
They are playing a dangerous game
But despite their recalcitrant declarations
there is settlement possible which even
Austria herself may be forced to accept
when it becomes a choice between it and
a European war.
This Is. briefly. that Austria will poy
Turkey moderate indemnity and Turkey
will cede the narrow strip known as the
Sanjak of Novi Basear for a connecting
link between Servia and Montenegro.
Austria today would reject that sugges-
tion with Indignation. Yet the other day
she allowed the impression to get abroad
in Constantinople and other capitals that
she was willing to give a solatium to
Turkey amounting to Eo0OO.O0O sterling
II is known that tho -perte would accep,
Austria. to be sure. has denounced the
idea that she would permit the creation
Of a Serb buffer strip across the Sanjak
But her objection If persisted in would
amount to confession of her future
ambition to push the Austrian flag to
Saloniki. a thing which Europe. in its
present temper. would not permit at any
cost.
important feature of the situation. NJ
1syolskys speech yesterday emphasized
the fact that Italy has identified her
self completely with the policy of Russia
France and England.
Germany's Sympathy Weak.
The diplomatic word. moreover. is not
convinced that GeT1nany's Endorsement of
her ally's adventure is by any means as
whole-hearted as her official utterances
Indicate. Austria's; official feelings at the
present moment. in fact, are decidedly
sore.
She betrayed them freely yesterday in
the public comments upon NJ Isvolsky's s
circular note To the powers. She accuses
Russia. paradoxically. OF seeking delay
and Of being opposed 10 the E.uropean Il
conference, which she has advocated from
tho first.
Austria's sudden repudiat ton OF the idea
OF the payment of an indemnity 10 Tur-
Key for the annexation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina Is said to have been caused
by the impression that France can be
induced To finance the Turkey loan tenn
porarily in the interests of peace in the
near east.
The efforts of France TO calm the rising
Storm nave been utterly misinterpreted
At vienna. If 1T Is supposed there that
the republic is willing to pay the penal
ties OF Austria S miSdeeds for the sake
OF guaranteeing peace Baron Aerenthal
IN word. continues to show an amazing
and fncomprehensble wrong-headedness
In regard to the whole situation, which
Is the chief difficulty in the way of
reaching general settlement
Much. In fact, everything. depends upon
whether the private negotiations between
the powers. which are now To begin will
Change his Isolated point of view and
lead to such concession alone can
avert war