New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-23

provinces 20 a conference Of the powers. How
can il be modified without their consent? Again,
when Austria coded Venice TO Italy. she insisted
o. her right I'm accordance viii the principles
OF international law. 10 saddle italy with
share of her own national debt proportlonate to
the loss caused by the dminution of her ter
ritory Why does she now refuse even 10 dis
cuss the same principle when it rs raised By
Turkey"
The mystery Of Aehron,har' policy is no mys-
tory now Behind his action at that time lay
the intention to transform he Dual Monarchy into
federation. There are. as every one knows, war
ring races and religions under Hapsburs rule.
or tho fifty million Of Franz Josef's subjects
eleven million are Germans. ten million Magyars.
sig million Czcchs. four million Poles three mill
ion Servans and so on And the question Of
religion cuts across the question Of race. Roman
Catholicism prodomHatcs; some thlrty-three
millions profess this faith; but there are eight
millions who belong TO the Eastern Church and
four million Protcstants. TO say nothing of Jews
and Nahometans
How can unity be preserved IN these circum-
stances? Aehrenthal thought he had found way
in Tralism i'm the development of a Slavic IN
nuence 10 balance the German and the Magyar.
lie was willing to risk for this purpose In
deed he must have forescen that would fol-
low the next step m his programme. For Russia
would not. could lot permit the development Of
Austria as a Slavic power But for the Kaiser n
is probable that he and Franz Ferdinand between
them would have driven Russia into war at that
time.
Thus Berchtod. the present Austrian Foreign
Minister succeeded 20 heritage Of difficulties.
The recent trouble IN the Balkans increased
rather than diminished these difficulties. 1t may
be doubted if either Russia or Austria was anX-
ous to see the rise Of a strong Balkan confeder-
alton. At all events, they were spared the sight
The interference Of Rumania with Bulgaria, the
bitter quarrel between Bulgaria and Seryia, the
ambitions of Greece all these things interviewed
Thus. when Servia was attacked by Austria no
other Balkan nation protested 1t was left to
Russia 10 champion the cause Of the Slav. In
fact. there are reasons to believe that Bulgaria,
burning with resentment against Serva and Ru-
mania is inclined 20 favor Austria; and, despite
her losses in the recent war. she is still mill
tary power whose aid would be valuable Gould
il be given, however. with Rumania pawn IN
Russian hands? Such spoculations are perhaps
of no great moment But they suggest the per
plexties OF the course laid out for Austria by
the archduke and Aehrentha which Count
Berchtold has been compelled to follow.
That he has followed il unwillingly is quite
possible. Not that he disapproves a war with
Russia; he is al one with the German popula-
tons Of Central Europe in fearing the Slayonic
flood. A. long ago early last year the Aus
trian army was in large part modified, and Rus
STA was the obvious aim Of these preparations.
Yet Berchtold had been Ambassador at ST. Pc
tersburg, had been exceptionally popular with
the Russian people and had received from the
Car. on leaving his post, the highest order ever
conferred upon a departing diplomatist. Was he,
then or is he, a Germanophile, who would be
driven by the Kaiser into war with Russia?
II hardly seems probable. For until the assassi-
nation Of Franz Ferdinand gave Austria pre-
text for beginning a cogAiet which there was lit
tie chance Of "localizing" Count Berchtold had