The Washington herald., 1913-05-18
Court Gossip of Interesting
EpentS on THO Continents

nineteenth century, offered to construct
roadway across the principality AZ hts
expense. but his overtures were s,n,-
marily rejected. He then threatened to
lay waste the country with fire and sword
.iiI lts name became Monte Rosso C"Red
MountalnD instead of Montenegro CBIsck
mountain. The threat, however, never
was carried out
The great Slav demonstration at ST
petersburg shows what difficulties the
Russian government has to contend with
In cooperating harmoniously with the
other powers, and what an explosion
might occur in Eastern Europe, II the
worthy Nicholas managed to fire the
train, either by accident or design.
1t is easy to see why there are no
Russian warships demonstrating in the
Adriatic. In the interest of peace the
Russian government has gone as far as
1t dared in morally supporting the demon
stration and urging France to Join il.
This should be sufficient reason for Eng
land Joining too. and sticking to the bust
ness till the danger is past. There would
have been no danger at all if Austria
could have been induced to stand out
along with Russia
in the recent campaign, belongs to a no.
bic Albanian family. and in certain quar-
tiers 1t Is being suspected that he yielded
the fortress and was permitted TO eyac-
uate the same with the honors of war
by an understanding with King Nicholas.
Essad had a force of well-armed vet.
Grams. which would enable him to main
tain himself against all corners as the
ruler of Albania The King of Monte
might yield Scutari. but only after re-
ceiving generous territorial and other
compensation, and instead of becoming
an Austrian protectorate, Albania would
IN reality become an independent nation
The Kaleidoscope change at Scutari
by which the Turkish garrison, after
surrendering. becomes an Albanian field
force and its commander a seIf-pro-
claimed king. will occasion at Vienna
the rather painful emotion of having
been the victim of a joke perpetrated
upon the Austrian cabinet conformity by
the Montenegrins and by Essad Pasha,
who has developed a sudden dislike of
autonomy.
Austria emphaticaIly is in a hole
alone will not induce an army
Of $500 men, aided more or less direct
ly by the Montenegrin force which besides
has the sympathy of the Albanian resi-
dents to give in to- Austria's demand for
autonomy in that country. Unless 1t can
the powers that she is in the
right, Austria will have to run more risks
and begin a war all of its own. As the
Bosnians did thirty-fiye years ago, prac-
tically only half civilized, SO the Alban-
Ians of today will resist an Austrian &C.
cupation and will stubbornly refuse the
in the face of all eXplana-
tons and diplomatic interference. TIE
trusteeShip' which the dual monarchy
Then established over Bosnia is not forgot
.en in the Balkans and the free and sturdy
who are FESTIVE under the
yoke, no matter how lightly burdened,
never will believe in Austria's reform
The game which that country PLAYED
n 1878 is to be repeated once more But
It that time 1t had the consent Of the
powers to occupy Bosnia and Herze-
yovina, while now it has only their con-
tent to establish autonomy In Albania.
Vow as then 1t Ensembles its real pur-
Jose, but it does it so clumsily that no
me is deceived. To be candid the Ball
,latz Cabinet should have said right out
hat it wanted Albania as its price for
'eace. No one perhaps then would have
admired Austria, but sne would not stand
'efore the world in the light of a hypo-
rite. protesting to favor autonomy yet
ii the while meaning to extinguish IL at
he first opportunity. Is it really pos
ible that "Unser Frazel' and his much
'aunted peace diplomacy have sunk to
he level of licensing the plumber of a
weaker belligerent And what to say
bout the great neutral of powers which
would permit the foremost to grab the
poll, is a puzzle. FLANEUR