New-York tribune., 1910-10-09

lie his army and restore IL TO peace
footing the German army would cross
the Muscovite frontier without de-
lay As the military authorities At ST
Petersburg were united in declaring TO
the Czar that his army. Just then in the
process Of reorganization and rearma-
ment after the disastrous war with
japan, was in no condition at the time
TO encounter the united forces OF Ger
many and Austria. Russia was COM
PEELED TO yield to the Kaiser's demands.
OF course, Iswolshy was considered re-
eponsible by his countrymen for the hu-
initiation which his policy thus placed
upon Russia, and he would undoubtedly
have been dismissed had it not been for
two things-One Of them. that his dis
grace would have seemed 70 constitute
another nOrtifying concession 70 Berlin
and TO Vienna, and the other the exist
ence OF d letter, OF which few peO-
pie are even TO this day aware, in which
Emperor Alexander III. not long after
his accession TO the throne, intfmated 10
Emperor Francis Joseph that he would
raise no objection when the moment
came for the incorporation Of Bosnia and
Herzegovina into the dual monarchy.
This letter was written at Skiernie-
wize, where the three enperOrs met in
1884. when the so-cal1ed three emperors'
alliance among Russia, Austria and
Germany was still in existence, and be
fore Alexander III had broken loose
therefrom TO enter into an alliance with
France.
Iswolsky a year later was led by his
ranCOr against Austria TO induce the
Gar TO place a wholly gratuitous affront
upon the venerable Francis Joseph in
adopting the most extraordinarily cir
cuitous route through Germany and
France when travelling between the
Victor Emmanuel and Queen Helene at
their castle Of Raccouigf The most
direct route lay. of course. through
territory, but rather
than touch there or receive the slightest
courtesy from any OF Francis Joseph's
representatives the Czar went a round
about way, which prolonged his journey
forty-eight hours both going and return
ing.
IswOlsky was on that occasion in at
tendance on his sovereign. and IL is not
astonishing under the circumstances
that he should have been regarded at
Berlin, and especially at Vienna. as 80
bitter an enemy OF the two countries as
70 render any friendly understanding De
tween them and Russia impossible as
long as he remained Minister OF Foreign
Affairs at ST Petersburg
The result OF the strained relations be-
tween Russia on the one hand and Ger
many and Austria on the other, for
which Iswolsky Is primarily responsible,
has been an extremely aggressive policy
during the last twelve months on the
part OF the two allied empires in ques-
ton. especially in the Southeast OF Eu-
rome
Among the features OF this policy have
been their transformation Of Turkey and
OF Runania from territorial into mari
time powers. The Turkish navy was a
Joke until Germany sold several men-Of-
war to the Sublime Porte. as we'll as a
number OF destroyers. while Rumania
has Just undertaken the expenditure OF
$50, 200. 600 on the creation OF a Black
Sea fleet and in the conversion OF Lake
Tekirghiol. d couple of miles distant
from Constantza. into a great military
port and naval stronghold. or course
the money for the purpose is furnished
by German financier.. at the Instance OF
the German government: and what rem
ders this move Of RumAnia OF Sill