Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04
PEACE WITH DISH0NOR,

The political duel between Russia.
England. France and Italy on the one
part and Austria Hungary and Germany
on the other, has ended, for the moment
at least, in peace, but peace with dis-
honor. Servia protested against the an
nexation OF Bosnia Herzegovina py
Austria, because a menace to her ma
tional existence. Russia, England. France
and Italy protested because the annexa-
ton was a distinct violation of the treaty
of Berlin, of which the parties OF the
first part and second part were coslgna-
tories.
Russia voluntarily, or involuntarliS'
was the scapegoat Of the situation. sne
had committed herself
Russia the under former Russian
s..n..o.+ ministers to Austria. ana
SS"peeo"' the fault committed has
cost her dearly. NJ. 1svolsky protes'eu
first of all against Austria hungary
violation of the treaty OF Berlin. ana
suddenly, apparently without reason or
intimation to his associates, he recognlzeo
the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina
A dispatch from Vienna on the Slst
ultimo announced that the Servlan min
lister submitted to Foreign Minister Baron
Aehrenthal a note from his government;
in which Servia yielding to the couIs -
of the powers declared that her rlsn.s
had not been violated by the ahiieAa. az
Hungary; that she would no longer pro-
test: that she would maintain peace,ui
relations with Austria Hungary; tnae sls
would discharge the reservisas anu
formation of irregular troops or bands;
The note had been prepared at tne
suggestion of the powers. and it so stated:
and was submitted with the oo)ect OF
terminating all Observation-Disclosures pc
tween Austria Hungary and Seryia. Sub
seouently it was officially declared that
the Austria Hungarian foreign ONCE ap-
proved the Servian note and the long
drawn-out crisis was declared at an emu.
Servia has one consolation which may
help her in the future. namely, that her
humiliation is shared in greater degree,
perhaps, by those who prepared the note,
Russia, England. France and Italy.
Servian journals declare that Serv1a'
cause was betrayed through treason to
the Serb cause of M. Isvolsky: that while
the recognition by Russia of the annexa-
ton OF Bosnia-HerZegovina was certainly
great misfortune for Servia, 1t con-
stituted a shame and disgrace for Rus
STA, and this accusation by the SerVlan
press ~
Russia without distinction of party. The
Russian press attack the Russian minister
of foreign affairs with violence and de-
mand his dismissal.
On the other hand In official and mill
tary circles 1t Is well understood that the
necessities of the situation. her total I'M
preparedness for war. obliged Russia to
capitulate and recede from her position
under a threat said to have been person.
ally conveyed by Emperor William HIM
Eol v,1tN OF nf i'm
although chief of the opposition party in
the cabinet. sustained M. Isvolsky's policy
at cabinet meeting. in which the recog-
milton of the annexation Of Bosnia-Herze-
govina by Austria was decided.
1t is worthy of remark that at this cab
met meeting the question of reorganiza-
ton Of the army and
Enlarging navy was discussed. and
~. Ar it was then and there de-
cided that the army
should be placed upon formidable foot
ing, and that a great loan should be
contracted at the first favorable moment,
large sums being Immediately necessary
for the rearmament Of the infantry, whose
guns were unfit.
The French press likewise is angered
over the action of Russia and the conse-
quent check to the policy pursued by the
new triple alliance-a policy which main
tanned that the treaty of Berlin could not
signatory powers, which had loyalty
ranged themselves behind Russia.
later dispatch from ST. Petersburg
Goth ultimo) announced that the duma
voted the budget Of the ministry of ma
rine, including 800 for urgent i'm
provements in the Baltic fleet. NJ. Zveg-
intseff, reporter of the budget, charac-
teriZed the state of the Russian navy as
deplorabIe and demanded a revision of the
admiralty. The new minister Of marine.
Admiral Volvodsky. replying. expressed
his intention of promptly introducing the
necessary reforms.
The shock of Russias concession and
the defeat of the anti-German alliance
was the immediate cause of an interpella-
ton in the house of commons on the 29th
ultimo by Mr.. Balfour, who accused the
cabinet of incompetence. and offered the
following resolution:
I'm the opinion of this chamber the
policy Of her majesty's government as to
the ironclad ships of the latest model to
be Immediately constructed does not guar
antee sufficiently the security of the en-
pre-
In view of the present political situation
and the onus of defeat in the Balkans. of
which England, France and Italy must
bear share. in common with Russia,
there was full attendance of the dipIo-
matte corps in anticipation of a party con-
fict.
Sir Edward Grey, secretary for foreign
affairs, replying to the resolution offered
by Mr.. Balfour said. in part that he did
not wish to lessen the gravity of the sit
uation; he recognized the existence of a
new state Of things. for when Germany
should have completed her naval program
she will have a fleet of thirty-three
Dreadnoughts and her marine will be the
most powerful ever seen in the world.
'On this account there was necessity of
maintaining a fleet of superior power.
The divergence of views hangs upon the
period of it's construction. We know that
1t should be done, but we do not know
when"
Sir Edward added that there was great
amelioration in England's relations with
Germany since the king g
Edwards visit to Berlin. There
Berlin Visit. were were two points which
One would be an attempt on England S
part to isolate Germany, and the other,
the initiative of a great continental power
to dominate the policy of others.
Between these two questions Of isola-
ton and domination there exists a vast
space in which two nations may march
together There is no more reason to
fear that Germany may isolate England
than that England would isolate Germany
Englands naval budget depends upon