Evening star., 1909-02-26
WAR CRISIS DRIFTING
Inaction of the Powers Cause
for Uneasiness.
RUSSIA'S SILENCE FEARED
No Assurance She Will Not Help
Servia Against Austria.
FRANCE STRIVING FOR PEACE
United States Asked to Join in Ell
fort to Secure Mediation in
the Balkans.
RUSSIA'S SILENCE FEARED
FRANCE STRIVING FOR PEACE

BERLIN. February 26-The foreign OF
flee has not yet received any word from
st. Petersburg or Belgrade that the Rus
sian government has declared that Servia
cannot hope for support from Russia i'm
the event of an outbreak of hostilities be-
tween Austria-Hungary and Servia. II is
apparent that the question is being per-
mitted to drift, and in this circumstance
is seen the only serious danger. The dec
laration of policy made in the Servian
parliament yesterday by NJ. Novakovich.
the new premier, is considered fairly mod
crate in view of the excited state OF
Servian feelings.
Servian students in the Polytechnic
School at Goethen have received tele-
graphic orders to join the colors. and ii
is reported that many Austrian students
in Germany are homeward bound in the
expectation of war.
The best official opinion here However.
continues confident that there WIN be no
war between Austria Hungary and Servia.
Powers Accept Invitation.
The powers that signed the Berlin
treaty have accepted the invitation Of
France to make representations to Ser via
not to insist upon territorial compensa-
tion from Austria Hungary because of the
annexation by that country of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
The French parliamentary arbitration
group. Of which Baron dEstournelles d de
Constant is president, today undertook
an effort to arouse the public opinion of
the world and to compel the powers to
offer mediation in event that conflict
| in the Balkans becomes inevitable. Reso-
| lutions were adopted and communicated
| to the parliaments Of the signatories to
| The Hague agreement, calling attention
| to the fact that an offer Of mediation by
| neutrals under The Hague convention
| .'can never be considered an unfriendly
| act by litigants.'
Americas Support Asked.
| The support Of the United States and
the South American republics is especially
desired by the French group, and tele-
graphic appeals will be dispatched 10
Washington and South American capitals
requesting cooperation. Baron d'Estour-
nelles de Constant considers it urgently
| important that preparations should be
made for Intervention in the Balkan sit.
| uation before it Is too late.
ST. PETERSBURG, February 26. A
much more hopeful view prevails today in
diplomatic circles in ST. Petersburg con-
cerning the Austro Hungarian Servian
crisis. due to the probability of the sue
ceSsful issue of the current negotiations
| for the Intervention of the powers. Rus
sia, in principle, has agreed to join I'm the
| representations at Belgrade for the pres
ervatiOn of peace
| AS a result of the improved situation
prices on the bourse today were firner.
Turkey Signs Protocol.
CONSTANTINOPLE. February 26.-The
Austro- Hungarian-T Turkish protocol for the
settlement of the differences arising out
of the annexation by the former power OF
the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
was signed here this afternoon by the
grand vizier and Marquis Pallavicini, the
| Austro- Hungarian ambassador. Under il
the Turkish government gets $10,SOO,OO0
| indemnity.
| The boycott committee announced today
the suspension of the boycott on Austr an
goods