The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-27
Happenings i'm the Old World
RUSSIA WILL NOT Be
CAUGHT MAPPING
Proposes to Hold Its Own in the
Balkans, aud Wants Aus
tria'S Promise.
BY GEORGE FRASER.
2 20 The Tribune.

SpIIi'il ,dDlS 10 nH tribune.
ST. PETERSBURG Feb. aG.-Russia
does not propose 10 be caught mapping in
the Balkans as she was at the time OF
the Austrian coup d etat when Bosuia
and Herzegovina were added To the Haps-
burg domains At this time Russia
wishes tbc status quo in the near
east maintained. but II this is not 10
DC she is quietly placing herself in po-
sition when she will be assured OF her
Sha,e In the sDoils. That the entente
between the Balkan states. If no; actual
" fostercd from st. Petersburg at least
mas the sincere sympathy of the cars
government may be accepted as certain.
There have beer a number Of pour par
leIrS between Foreign Minister IZvolsiiy
and the Austrian Embassador Count
Berchtold and several notes have been
exchanged between st Petersburg and
Vienna. ! am Informed on high author
lty that Russia insists that she shall
have from Austria positive assurances on
these points. first the maintenance OF the
status quo" in the Balkans. second. ac-
ceptancc OF The new regime In Turkey.
which guarantees equal rights 10 all
s,ention from any step which might him
der the untrammelled development Of the
Balkan states. Nothing short OF this VIII
convince Russia Of Ahstrla's good faith.
understand that Archdukc Franz Fer
dlnand. accompanied by the Duchess of
llohenbert will ucXt month pay a visit
tn The c2ar. This visit may have import
ant results.
Naval Programme Sanctioned.
The naval programme has been finally
completed, sanctioned by the ear and
presented TO the commission of defense:
The plan calls for the expenditure OF
400. 900 ono extending over period OF ten
years and besides battleships and cruisers
transports. Most Of the ships. il is an
nounced. will be constructed in Russia
but il Is probable that few Of them
will he builtsin France. England and
America The Russian ministry Of COM
merce and industry has presented TO thc
council OF ministers n project whereby the
vessels In the Pacific and adjoining, seas
must not exceed fifty per cent of the
crew The new rcGuls zion VIII not come
into force before the autumn of 1919.
Duma Not Subservient
Those who think that the Russian duma
surprised to see the strong stand which
Il has taken against the system %f exile
by administrative order. IL Is To be
observed that their protest Is not direct
ed against the principle OF exile in itself
provided it Is carried out By properly
constituted legal authorities with due
safeguards for fair trial aud the pro-
lection of the innocent. AS an alterna-
tive to capital punishment, the exile sys-
tenn when free from gross abuses, may
have its merits. Bnt what renders the
system so intolcrablc Ia Russians Us us
entirely arbitrary naj3;re. II hns become
neither more nor less than system Of
organized kidnapping. Every man lli-
critics depend upon tho caprice OF malice
OF some official.
Must Havo Holy Water.
An extraordinary scene WAS Witnessed
al Feudosla In the Crimea, on the re-
turn uf q party OF Nrohammedan pilgrims
from Mecca. The railway authorities in
sisted tha, the large boxes containing
TASKS of holy water which The pilgrims
had brought back with them should be
placed in the luggage van Of the train.
Tho pilgrims tbereupon made great
o,,tcyv. and about loo of them lay down
~ the rails in front OF the train. and
rclared that they would rather die than
- separated from the boxes In view
If their frantic state. tho railway au-
.horitieS eventually allowed thcm 10 take
The boxes into the passenger carriage.