New-York tribune., 1912-02-18
Won AEHRENTHAL DIES
Austro- Hungarian Foreign Min
lister SuCCumbS at Vienna.
HIS SUCCESSOR APPOINTED
Count Leopold Won Berchthold,
Former Ambassador to Russia,
to Fill Vacant Post.

vienna, req. 1i'-SOuiC @A'OS
Won Aehrenthal, Austro-H Hungarian Min
lister OF Foreign Affairs, died this even
ing. He was ffty-eight years old.
Since the beginning Of the year Count
Won Aehrenthal had been suffering from
leucocyth4mia, a disease characterized
by profound changes in the blood and
internal organs, and no hopes were
entertained for his recovery.
During the day he received an auto
graph letter from Emperor Francis Jo-
seph accepting his resignation and be-
slowing upon the Minister the brilliants
of the Grand Cross of the Order Of st.
Stephen. In his letter the Emperor ex-
pressed regret that il was necessary, be-
cause of the state of his health, for
Count Won Aehrenthal to ask again to be
relieved of office. He reaffirmed his con-
fdence in the Foreign Minister and his
policy, which had been carried out under
difficult circumstances, and concluded
with "warmest thanks for your faithful
and distinguished services to my house
and monarchy"
- Count Won Aehrenthal read the letter
after receiving the last sacrament, and
seemed much gratifled.
Coun. Leopold Won Berchthold, former
Ambassador to Russia, has been ap-
pointed Foreign Minister.
Count Won Aehrenthal who succeeded
Count. Goluchowski as Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the dual monarchy of Austria
Hungary. In 1906. was a Bohemian by
birth, allied to the family Of the morgan
attic wife of. the heir apparent. and was
generally understood to stand high in the
favor and confidence of the future EN-"
peror. His nomination was in fact at
tributed to the influence Of the heir ap-
parent His advent to Office was looked
upon as indicating a new departure in the
foreign policy Of the monarchy. Archduke
Ferdinand had been notoriously averse to
the Triple Alliance, and on numerous oc-
casions went out of his way TO manifest
his antagonism to Italy.
Count Won Aehrenthal had spent almost
his entire diplomatic career at st. Peters
burg where he was Austrian Ambassador
and a residence there of nearly quarter
TO form many warm friendships there and
develop in general a strong sympathy with
Russia. 1t was therefore expected that his
efforts would be directed toward an alli-
ance Of Austria, Russia and Germany.
The Count was connected by his marriage
with Countess Pauline Szecheny with all
the greatest houses of the Hungarian aris-
tccracy. such as the Apponyis, the Ester
hays. the Szaparys and the Andrassys,
and his appointment was therefore not dis
pleasing to the Magyar element.
His carer following his appointment as
Foreign Minister, however, furnished many
surprises. His policy from the start was to
restore the proper balance Of relations be-
tween Berlin and Vienna. In the days of
his predecessor, Count Goluchowski, Aus
tria was reduced TO purely secondary role
in the eyes of Europe, and especially in the
oTinion of Germany. a condition of affairs
to which attention was drawn when. after
the conference of Algeciras, Emperor WILL
lam sent an extraordinary telegram to
Goluchowsli thanking him for the man.
ner in which the Dual Empire had acted as
second" to Germany in the controversy.
Won Aehrenthal soon proceeded to show
his entire independence of Berlin control
by proclaiming the annexation of the Otto
man provinces of Herzegovina and Bosnia
to Austria Hungary without warning Kali
ser Wilhelm beforehand about It, From
that moment the Kaiser set to work to
undo Won Aehrenthal. and began by fnti-
mating that his presence at the head of the
Department of Foreign Affairs at Vienna