New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-12
More Light on Austro-Hungarian
On;nion Just Before the War

>-.u-..,,,ors inst arrived from Vienna pile p
evidence that Austro- Hungarian opinion was az
solrtelv self-deceived as TO the necessary ene0'
- ,ho Drol Nonarchy's Servian policy. The DE
Iusions which uled the public into false security
oro fairly comparable to the tragic overconn
dence Of Paris on the eve OF the FrancoGer"la"
war Of 1s7o,71. The French believed then tna'
they would have the assistance of Austria an"
tho Soutb German states The Austrlahs "n"
1Iungarions were equally confident two weeks ago
,ho, whatever happened they would have the SUP
port Of Italy aud that Great Britain would not
hack ND France and Russia. short and bitter
dream,
On Julv 2s the leading article in the Vienna
o>eus Freie Presse" quoted Sir Edward Grey's
warning in the British House OF Commons that a
collision of views over the Austro- Hungarian at
tack on Servia might end in the greatest catas-
trophe that has ever befallen the Continent of
Europe But it gave this childishly ingenious
turn to Sir Edward Grey's phrase:
That is the proposition of the English statesman,
which he made without having chance to consult
with the other governments concerheo neJsuSe ~
and Russia, which might end IN one OF the greateSt
catastrophes that ever visited the continent. we
are glad 10 emphasize the fact that the State sec
re.ary spoke only Of a catastrophe on the Continent
from which it is manifest that England IN no case
will be drawn into the catastrophe
In an article written for the same newspaper Of
the following day, July %, by Count julius An
Grassy, former Cabinet Minister and prominent
Hungarian leader. the same note of supreme
nghtheartedness appears Said the count;
hold it to be clear impOssibility that France
and even Russia will take the frightful risks IN
volved in a world war merely in order TO hinder the
suppression of those movements which in recent
years have come 70 notice IN Servla, when nave
now brought the danger OF a world war near ana
which no civilized man defend MY
confidence in the preservation Of peace IS strength
ened by the attitude Of our allies Most especialy
by the attitude of the German people and the GER
man Kaiser The correct and loyal attitude OF
Italy also improves the prospects Of peace. :;
A world war is not necessary. On the contrary,
believe il is not even probable, and whoever would
without unavoidable necessity, even on the SUPPOSE
ton that test of strength will some day come CON
;nre nm TIE horrors of world to terrify hu-
Inanity would take upon himself fearful RESPONSE
bility.
What Count Andrassy described as an improb-
ability on July 20 became an actually on AuguN'
when Germany declared war upon Russia
What he CdlleO the COIItCJ anu iVJ"i "''''NO
Italy" developed Immediately thereafter into an
attitude which Vienna has been condemning as IN
correct and disloyal
Finally. in one Of its leading articles on the
same date the ''Neue Freie Presse" thus waved
awav TO its own satisfaction the possibility OF
France and Great Britain being drawn to the
support Of Russia:
England has the strongest disinclinaton to let
herself be driven into for Servia. In the
speech Of the Secretary Of State Sir Edward Grey
there was no word of excuse for Servia !;
France has no desire for war, which cannot possibly
be popular because the real of the war VIII
he the murder at Sarajevo and because no french-
man will understand why he should sacrlhce his
property and blood for Servia and let himself be
drawn bv Russia into a war in which nobody could
maintain that the Russian government has really
vital interest.
II is picture to put alongside Of Frances in
fatuation in 1870 when the Minister Of War
gayly assured Napoleon III that the French army
was in fighting trim down to the last button on
the private soldiers coat Austria Hungary
walked blindy, so far public opinion is con-
cerned into the catastrophe which Sir Edward
Grey predicted Will her people have sad an
awakening as the France of Louis Napoleon had?
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