Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-08-07
EXPLANATION Of
! EUROPEAN CRISIS
IS HARD TO FIND
Diplomats and Observers Unable
to Understand the Attitude
of Austria.
RECENTLY STRONG FOR PEACE
Count Berehtold, only a Few Weeks
Ago, Bitterly Criticized the War
Party, and His Change Of
Front Has Not as Yet
Been Explained.


one phrase that aptly characterizes the |
war situation in Europe. The leading |
newspapers and the most experienced |
observers are unable to agree on any
explanation of the crisis. And the rea-
son is not far to seek.
Only a few weeks ago the foreign
minister OF Austria, Count Berchtold
was earnestly defending the pacific
and moderate policy he had been pur-
suing toward the Balkans and Russia.
6erehtoId for Peace.
In a speech to the delegates at Buda-
pest he vigorously answered criticisms
of spokesman Of the war party, parti-
cularly Of a delegate who was sup
posed to be expressing the sentiments
of the then heir presumptive. the late
Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Count
Berchtold spoke of the aged emperor's
sincere and resolute devotion to peace;
he gave arguments of his own, more
over, in support of a policy of patience
and peace.
Feared Loss Of Prestige.
The frankness and directness Of that
speech impressed everybody except
those who feared that Austria might
be accused OF timidity and weakness.
might be misunderstood and In conse-
quence might lose political ead milf
tary prestige.
There were some among these who
thought, moreover, that Russia, whose
-ecuperative power was wonderful
whatever might be said of It's efficiency
- r.vha vNfttod
sgainst a more civilized and free pow
As-was getting too mighty and too
confident, and was enjoying too much
opportunity for rehabilitation and con-
solidation OF its financial and military
naval resources.
These vaguely favored bold and
aggressive policy even at the risk OF
war, which had better come sooner
than later, they held.
Sweden Takes Up Cry.
But Count Berchtold's view pre-
vailed for the moment and excellent
observers concluded that Austria, at
any rate, was not going to add to the
troubles, complications. and dangers Of
Europe by tempting fortune.
At that very moment Sweden was
excitedly discussing the Russian
peril" and demanding new measures OF
defense, while a section of the Ger
man press was pointing 20 the IDEAL
that walks like a man" as the foe tC
reckon with in the near future.
Yet the peace of Europe Is broker
not by Russia, not by Balkan powel
DESTROYS of revising the settlement
imposed by Roumania and the concer
of Europe at the Bucharest conference
but by Austria, and seemingly undel
Count Berchtold's directio@e
What has happened in the short in
aerval? If peace was necessary ant
desirable to Austria-Hungary few
weeks ago. why is war inevitable to
day?
To understand the situation 1t Is es
lsential to distinguish between glitter
ing generalities. fanciful aspirations
literature, and rhetoric. on the on
hand. and hard. grim, concrete fact
on the other. It Is essential to know
what the conflict is not. 1t is not
war between Teuton and Slav. It
not a war between the pan-Germa
world party and the Pan-Slay worl
party. It is not war for the preservs
ton of Hapsburg monarchy
Move ls Antl-Austrian.
The PanSserman movement is ant
Austrian and cannot fail to be SO. TIL
success of that movement would =
stroy Austria as q political entity Tn
Pan-German extremists have had to b
rebuked and repudiated by respons
BILE German statesmen. AS allies {
Austria they could not countenance
movement which assumed and lahore
for the disruption and disappearance
of Austria.
The Pan-Slav movement in Russia
manifestly anti-Austrian, as well 9
anti-German. It dreams of Slav rul
from the Adriatic sea to the Pacif
ocean" It dreams of Slay union {
confederation under the gentle al
benevolent sovereignty of Russia.
Cars Interest In Servia.
Pan-slavism is. however, in a lin
tied sense Enthusiastically in evidence
the cars profound interest In Servt
and Montenegro. The cars ministe
have often blundered in the Balkan