The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-08-12
EXPLANATION OF
EUROPEAN CRISIS
is HARD TO find
Diplomats and Observers Unable
to Understand the Attitude
of Austria.
RECENTLY STRONG FOR PEACE
Count BerchtoId, Only a Few Weeks
Ago, Bitterly Criticized the War
Party, and His Change OF
Front Has Not as Yet
Been Explained.

Confusion worse COMPOUNDED" Is the
one phrase that aptly characterizes the
wal 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.
R~erchtold 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 and mill
tary prestige. . =
There were some among these who
thought, moreover, that Russia, whose
~recuperative power vas wonderful
whatever might be said of its efficiency
and actual strength when pitted
against a more civilized and free pow
er-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 a bold and
aggressive policy ever at the risk OF
war, which had better come sooner
than later, they held. g.. ,o.
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 to the bear
that walks like a man" as the foe to
reckon with in the near future.
Yet the peace Of Europe is broken
not by Russia, not by a Balkan power
DESTROYS Of revising the settlement
Imposed by Roumania and the concert
Of Europe at the Bucharest conference,
but by Austria, and seemingly under
Count Berchtold's direction. .
What has happened in the short In
terval? If peace was necessary and
desirable to Austria-Hungary a few
weeks ago, why is war inevitable to-
day?
To understand the situation 1t is es-
sential to- distinguish between glitter
ing generalities, fanciful aspirations,
literature, and. rhetoric, OF the one
hand, and hard, grim, concrete facts
on the other. 1t Is essential to know
what the conflict Is not. 1t is not a
war; between Teuton and Slav. 1t Is
not a war between the Pan-German
world party and the Pan-Slav world
party. 1t is not war for the preserva-
ton Of Hapsburg monarchy.
Move Is Anti-Austrlan.
The Pan-German movement Is anti
Austrian and cannot fail to be so. The
success Of that movement would de-
stroy Austria as a political entity. The
PanGerman extremists have had to be
rebuked and ~repudiated by RESPONSE
Bile German statesmen. AS allies Of
Austria they could. not countenance q
movement which assumed and labored
for the disruption and disappearance
of Austria.
The Pan-Slav movement in Russia Is
m~anifestly anti-Austrian, as we'll as
anti German. 1t dreams of Slav rule
"from the Adriatic sea to the Pacific
ocean" 1t dreams of Slav union or
confederation under the gentle and
benevolent sovereignty Of Russia.
Cars Interest In Servla.
Pan-Slavism is, however, in a linn
tied sense, Enthusiastically in\evidence in
the cars profound interest in Servia
and Montenegro. The cars ministers
have often blundered in the Balkans