The chronicle=news., 1914-08-15

Russian diplomacy, intriguing In
the Balkans. may be blamed for the
present Austro-Servian or Austro-
Slavic situation. for while 1t in ap-
pearance is n quarrel between the lit
tic Slavic state of Servia and the
great empire OF Austria-Hungary, in
fact It is n quarrel of long standing
between Austria and all the Slav ma
tions, not excluding Russia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina. once
Servian provinces, in 1903 belonged
to Turkey. although they were oc-
cupicd by Austrian troops and in cv-
cry way but on paper. were parts OF
the Austrian empire. Austria had
been quietly planning to annex the
two little Slavic provinces for some
time, but could not quite see her
way clear to do It without arousing
strenuous protest from the powers.
When the Turkish constitutional
revolution took place in 1903 Austria
saw her opportunity and took advan-
tagc OF 1t. She maintained that be-
cause Bosnia and Herzegovina un-
der the new Turkish regime would
have to send delegates to the Turk
ish parliament. it were better that
Austria annex them, which she
promptly proceeded to do in face of
the protests of Russia. France and
Great Britain.
1t was maintained by the powers
that Austrias act In anneXing the
Slavic provinces was violation of
the agreement made at the general
European congress which met at
Berlin shortly after the Russo-Turk-
ish war Austria remained firm.
however, and when the powers
threatened. Germany came to Aus
tr,as aid. Germany was prepared for
war as was Austria. Great Britain,
France and Russia were not prepared
for war, and with both Austria andl
Germany facing them, they were COM
PEELED to submit to Austria's seiZ-
ure of Bosnia and Herzegovina and
accept their humiliating defeat with
as good grace as possible.
What Russia could not do by force
of arms she then proceeded to do by
intrigue and diplomacy. Secret
agents were sent into all of the Balk-
an states and into those provinces
of Austria and Germany populated
thickly with Slavs. Ever since that
time a constant campaign to arouse
the Austrian and German Slavs has
been maintained by Russian secret
agents.
Dissatisfaction and revolution was
among the Slavs OF Aus
tria by Russian agents. and 1t isl
even said that Russian agents aid
ed in the formation of Slavonic So
cieties in Austria and Germany. the
objects of which were the freeing Of
the Slavic provinces now under the
Teutonic rule and the formation OF
n great Slavic empire. for which the
Balkan league was to be the founda-
lion. Russian diplomacy brought
about the alliance of Balkans ma
tions for the war with Turkey, in
which war little Servia greatly dis
herself.
The fine hand of the Austrian for
eiEn office was seen in the Balkan
pie. however. soon after the defeat
or Turkey. Both Austria and Ger
MANY had confidently expected to
see Turkey The victor. and 1t Is said
that the Teutonic diplomats were
sadly disappointed at the outcome.
Austria busted herself Immediately
and by the exercise of either finer
or more subtle brand of diplomacy
than that exercised by Russia. sue
ceedod In convincing the powers that
Albania, which had been taken pos
session of by the Servians, should pe
made an independent kingdom, but
in reality under the Austrian and
German domination. Consequently. !