Evening star., 1909-03-14

| Inc Balkan Crisis is not CloSed. ana lne
apprehensions which have dominated dip
| lomatic circles these last
SerV1aS months have been justi-
| No+e fed by Servias circular
note to the powers, which
was received at Paris, London, Vienna
and Berlin on the 18th instant. Servia,
| in brief. while renouncing her demands.
territorial and economical, desires to SUBJ
init her case to the prospective inter-
national conference. Austria has been
holding her hand with the object of secur-
| ing Servia's assent to direct negotiations,
which Servia has interpreted as similar to
the familiar invitation Of the spider to
| the fly.
| Vienna is dissatisfied, and all diplomatic
circles are disquieted and turn to Russia
as the only hope of avoiding war should
Austria send an ultimatum to Servia.
| Servia is reported to have declared in
her circular note to the powers that she
does not wish war with the dual mon
archy. Servia. it must be remarked, alb
stains from replying directly to Austria
Hungary's note. Serva. it is known. Is
actively engaged in preparing her forces
for war, and Austria-Hungary is doing
likewise. and has been doing SO for sew
eral months.
AuStria-Hungary maintains that If a
conference is called it should only treat
of the ratification of certain agreements
already made, and does not recognize the
right of the powers to interfere in ques-
tions concerning two independent nations.
1t Is affirmed that Turkey likewise is OF
the same opinion, and perhaps Germany.
Now. if this situation is true. as reported
py recent dispatches, the Balkan ques-
ton is still long way from settlement.
a dispatch from Vienna on the 9th in
stant states that Count de Forbach. Aus
tro-Hungarian minister at Belgrade. had
been instructed to inform the Servian gov
ernment that because of the attitude of
that government during the last months
the dual monarchy had not been in po-
sltlon TO submit to parliament a renewal
of the commercial treaty with Servia.
which expires March 81. When Servia
Will have notified the AuStro- Hungarian
government of her change of policy with
reference to Bosnia Herzegovina, Austria
Hungary would be prepared to negotiate
questions of trade intercourse pending be-
tween the countries.
X
slant affirm that Servia had so far failed
10 meet AuStria-Hunga-
Austria rvs communication, and
1. that that government was
iepieaseo' very much dispeased
L llS uiSpdiCll COutdlIlS the 1Ol1OWIHS
the Neue Freie Presse:
'Servia can withdraw or not withdraw
She can give assurances of good neigh
borly relations or not; she can freely ne
Sotiate as fully independent state; but
what she cannot do is to pursue a policy
OF equlvocation She must speak up, come
out from the dark and then like any inde-
pendent state take the responsibility of
the consequences. Austria-Hungary has
much patience and desires peace"
A dispatch of the Sth instant from St
Petersburg announced that at a secret
session of the duma NJ. Isvolsky declared
that in case of war he would try by all
diplomatic means to prevent Russia be-
ing drawn into it. The duma on the Sth
instant voted the extraordinary credits of
81, i42.51S for the navy and $19,3 $50 for
the army to complete munitions. NJ. Ouch
koff. leader of the Octoberists, said in the
duma that the d1lma was cheerfully pre-
pared to make any financial sacrifices.
NJ. GuchkOff criticised the irresponsibility
and procrastination shown in the army
and navy organizations, and boldly asked
whether 1t considered the present COM
mander competent to lead the forces If
war broke out Our enemies" he said,
realize better than the government the
military unpreparedness Of Russia and
their appetites are likely to be aroused at
any moment"
The Russian press is disposed to treat
lilt foefNIdu peSSlINlStjcaIly.
The Nouveau Temps of st. Petersburg
denounceS the tactics of Germany's diplo-
macy in the Servian matter in such man.
ner as to cause one to think not only that
an Austro-Servian war was imminent, but
that a general war was about to COM
mence. The Nouveau Temps expresses
impatience that Germany seems to init
mate to Russia that she Is not expected
to stir in case Austria throws herself upon
Servia. Russia. says the Nouveau Temps.
dnn. nnt Il cfyn l,,t r1,a
fear it.
Thus the fault committed by Austria
Hungary in the violation Of the treaty of
Berlin becomes more and
Treaty more apparent Not only
pro1xap Is this SO at London
Paris and Rome, but also
at ST. Petersburg and at Berlin, for
neither of these governments wishes for
war.
The diplomatic situation is reviewed
thus by lie Temps Of Paris down to the
2ath ultimo: England. France and
Italy requested Germany to say IL she
would be disposed to unite with them to
act at Vienna and at Belgrade to obtain
their respective authority to effect a set
tlement. Germany replied that she was
ready to act at Belgrade, but not at
Vienna. The question is to know if these
powers will confer with the ServianS first
and then with the Austrians, as indicated
by the Gazette de Frankfort"
LIE Temps adds: The actual situation
in its obscurity is more dangerous than
situation which is well defined" The
Temps insists upon the reunion of the con-
ference. If the assembly could be called
together rapidly that would be the best
solution. But the Temps writes: lex
perence shows that programs Of that
sort are not readily arranged. Today it
is necessary to act quickly" And the
Temps concludes: I'VE repeat, it would
be a criminal weakness to permit an ir-
reparabe conflict to break out without
being aware of its character There is
a question to be asked at all the chancel-
lories: Are you for or against this terri
torial ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Servia?' We
are no longer living in an age where peo-
pie may be pushed into an adventure
without being told all about 1t. Public
opinion has the right to be enlightened.
first be understood. and in order to be un-
derstood they must be informed. For a
fact they are not, and that uncertainty
cannot be maintained. We demand a pol
icy of enlightenment-a necessary condi-
ton of policy of peace"
X
The new Servian cabinet has been def
nitely formed under NJ. Novakovitch, pro-
gressist, as president of
Servian the council of minister's
On the 24th utimo the new
OooiAe'' cabinet made govern
mental decarat ton in the Skouptctina