Evening star., 1912-11-24

violating the treaty of Berlin in the an
nexation OF Bosnia Herze-
Austria govina, her success In that
nra affair. gives her now. in the
threatened n e r ( erence
against Servia to bar the latter's road to
the Adriatic, the courage of her audacity.
The proposition Of the French premier,
Al. Poincare, that the powers jointly rec
ognize the appropriation of the territory
acquired by force of arms by the Balkan
allies as basis of mediation and peace
has been acceptable to all the powers, ex-
cept Austria and perhaps Germany.
Count Berchtold's uncertain note on the
subject of Austrias attitude toward
Servia has been discussed in detail by
Austrian delegation at Budapest. A brief
reference will prove instructive.
DR.. Sustersitch declared that the Bal
kan states had created a new status quo
in the Balkans. a status quo which has a
negative side and a positive side. Tie first
was the disappearance of Turkey from
Europe; the second Is the formation of a
Balkanlc union, from which will come an
lliyrian empire-a new great power capa-
Bile of placing in line million trained SOL
dierS and commanded by victorious gem
erals. Austria should thus accept accom-
plished facts and realize realities. The
least territory left to the Turks in Eu-
rope would be the germ of new troubles.
and for that reason the dual monarchy
had no interest to oppose the liquidation
of Turkish possessions in Europe Aus
tria should not refuse the access Of Servia
to the Adriatic sea. Servia would not
have repoSe until 1t possessed a seaport
Was it not more advantageous for Austria
to leave Servia an Albanian port than
to revive her aspirations in Bosnia and
Dalmatia?
DR.. Sustersitch manifestly had small
opinion of Count Berchtolds expose. for
he asked referring to the obscurity of
that minister's note: What are Aus
trfa's legitimate interests in the Bal
kans? What are these interests, which
it seems impossible to know?'
The greatest interest, added the orator
is for Austria herself to mix the least
possible with the affairs Of the Balkans.
There was a time when Austria Hun
gary had the possibility of playing pre-
ponderant role in this oriental peninsula.
1t was now too late, others had accom-
plished that task.
The Slav manifestations in Austria and
Prussia and Poland over the victories of
their Slav brothers, re-
Slavic ported in recent dis
r.,: patches. must give both
1eoin6' Austria and Germany
cause for serious reflection.
"At Prague" reports a dispatch. 'the
bulletin boards of journals were sur
rounded by vast throngs of Slavs. Con-
siderable sums Of money were subscribed
to the Servian Red Cross Society. There
We're cries Of "Vive Servia! Down with
Austria!'
Maxim Harden, the we'll known Ger
man publicist, is reported to have said to
a correspondent: ''The German race, its
influence and its interests are face to face
with a question Of life or death created
by the birth Of Slav influence. The re-
suits of a Slave hegemony in Europe are
inconceivable.'
The dispatches announcing the capture
of the ancient city of Uskub and finally
the important city of Monastir. added to
the rumored fall of Scutari, all with nu-
merous> garrisons, are final blows to the
defeated Turkish force in the outer de-
fenses Of Constantinople.
Mr.. Andrew d. White, ex-president of
Cornell. addressing the New York Peace
Society November 10. said: Let US all
appeal to the whole world in the great
peace palace at The Hague that Con-
stantinople may be made the great world
center of peace for all years to come
The world will say amen to that appeal
Austria has been threatening Servia
these days with her legions If she dares
march her victorious army to the Adri-
attic, where she proposes to establish her.
self in the port of San Juan de Medua
or Durazzo. A dispatch from Berlin.
dated the 10Th instant, reports that the
Tage Zeitung declares that the Servian
prince has officially announced that Serv-
ian troops were marching to the Adriatic
ports, and when these had been occupied
Servia would answer Austria.
1t may be asked. just here, did Austria
negotiate with Servia when the former
defiantly annexed Bosnia
Pertinent Servia now refuses to nego-
49,. tiate with Austria, and the
~u0AJ' refusal is based upon the
power Of confederation which disposes
Immediately of 100000 bayonets. The old
methods of diplomatic pressure are no
longer practicable. Servia, Bulgaria.
Montenegro and Greece have been nodded
into a confederation, and If Germany
should elect to follow her ally in an as
sault upon Servia we shall witness
an uprising Of the Slav which may shake
to the foundations the houses of the
Hapsburg and the Hohenzollern.
The Temps, commenting upon the atti-
tude of Austria, says:
''It is not at moment when the peo-
Piles of the Balkans, constantly sustained
by Russian, French and English SYM
pathy, affirm with force their national
strength that the powers Of the triple
entente could abandon them to excessive
eXactionS."
The attitude of the Austrian govern
ment and press is simply crude bluff, and
is not based upon any serious intention
of interfering with a situation which
quite Unexpectedly has slipped beyond
their power and control.
Italy's attitude in this Balkan question
is not very clear, and although the hand
of government at Rome Is hidden, the
journals of that city are outspoken and
comprehensive. The Giornale d'Italie
says:
"A surprise on the part of Austria in
the orient would place the Austro-Italian
tria and Italy in jeopardy. 1t would close
out the triple alliance. which is the forti-
fed camp of German diplomacy In Europe
Germany, besides, will not risk a war
where she would have to fight against
Russia. France and England, while Aus
tria would be confronted by the Balkan
states and Russia Besides, German in
terests are opposed to rupture with Rus
sia, and, moreover Germany does not
care to see an excessive increase OF power
in Austria.
These are bold expressions. They do
not correspond, however, with the dis
patches from Rome of the 10Th instant,
in which Italy is reported as making COM
mon cause with Austria against Servia.
correspondent reports a highly inter-
esting conversation with NJ. Kosta Sto-
janovitch, Servian minister of agriculture