New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-27
AUSTRIA PLAYING WITH SLAVIC FIRE,

AUSTRIA PLAYING WITH SLAVIC FIRE.
Developments in the Balkans make it increas-
ingly clear that the unlawful seizure Of Bosnia
and HERZEGOVINA BY Austria Hungary was not
the act Of the aged EmperOr-hing, if, indeed, it
had his approval but was dictated by his ambi-
tious heir-presumptive, Archduke Francis Fer
dinand, as . part Of his scheme to make the
realm over which he expects some day 70 reign
a great Slavic power, perhaps almost rivalling
Russia and certainly dominant over all the ma
tionalities of the Balkans The recent declara-
tons Of the Bulgars at SalOnica Of loyalty to
the new Turkish constitution suggested to the
archduke and his willing servant, Baron Aehren
thai the desirability Of making the grab quick
~ before a rehabilitated Turkey could de
mand the restoration of those provinces to her
and also in order TO check and defeat the re-
Mobilization Of Turkey. and thus by keeping the
Balkans in disorderly state to leave an open
door for further seizures. The scheme is amb-
tious and grandiose, but it must be considered
as perOus in the extreme and as more likely
than any other policy of our time to precipitate
the ruin Of the Dual Realm
1t must be borne in mind that in Austria
Hungary there are three major raccs-the Ger
man. the Magyar and the Slav. OF these the
last named. even without the annexation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina. is By far the largest
Il includes more than 40 per cent OF the entire
population Yet in both parts OF the realm it is
held In subsection To the others I'm Austria the
Germans discriminate against the bohemian and
other Slavs. and "a Hungary the Magyars treat
the CroatS. Slavonians and others as little better
than serfs. The new franchise law in Hungary
djscTimfnates grossly against all Don-Magyar
peoples. Certainly If appears fatuOus 10 suppose
that the realm can 60 on Indefinitely increasing
its SIavonic population and yet continue TO hold
ii in political sUbordination 20 the minority Gle
mcnts. The Slavs are bound to assert them
selves one Of these days, and the more their
numbers are increased by annexation or other
wise the sooner that time VIII come. The in
corporation Of these two Slavic provinces is
much ike adding fuel to a IRE beneath
screwed down safety valve.
So far as Austria IS concerned there Is no
doubt that an increase Of Slavic power IN pol
itics would imnel the German provinces 10 sep
arate themselves from Austria and 10 become
united with Germany. An ominous movement
toward that end was perceived not long ago.
and was with difficulty checked by the tact of
the Emperor. But It was merely halted and
not destroyed or abandoned. The Germans Of
Austria have little love for Prussia, though they
are closely attached to the Bavarians and other
South Germans, but they would certainly prefer
to be under the hegemony OF Prussia than to
suffer Slav domination Moreover. they per
ceivc al opportunity. by uniting with Bavaria
WIrtemberg and Baden, TO build up a South Ger
man group in the German Empire which would
be able almost 10 couuterhalance Prussia. Ba-
varia Baden and Wurtemberg, with German
Austria. would have a population OF more than
2OOO0OOO, against about 100000 in Prussia.
Still more to the point IS the fact that by the
addition Of the Austrian provinces the Catholic