New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-28
A General European War Still in the
Balance.

The responsibility for preventing general Eu-
rOpean war has now been transferred TO the Ger
man Emperor Great Britain has asked Germany,
France and Italy 10 join i'll an effort to settle d!
mediation Austria-Hungay's quarrel with Servia
Italy, a member Of the Triple Alliance, has ac-
ceped the suggestion. France will probably be
clad 10 accent It. the absence Of President Poncare
and Premier yiviani making it necessary to post
pone a definite answer until to-day tomorrow.
1t rests largely with Germany, therefore, whether
Austria Hungary Is to be restrained from making
war on Servia in order TO obtain redress which
should he sought and can readily be obtained
through diplomatic action.
Emperor William is Francis Josephs closest
ally and in recent years his political and personal
relations with the late Archduke Francis Ferdi-
nand were exceedingly intimate. He Is In all the
secrets OF Hungarian policy and has been
instrumental in shaping and guiding that policy.
lie is the one European ruler whose advice Aus
tria- Hungary would be- least likely to reject. The
government at Vienna would probably retreat from
its unreasonable position If he should counsel it to
do so.
II must be remembered that from the viewpoint
Of International law Austria Hungarys demands
on Servia were extreme and arbitrary. The Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assas-
snated in AustrO- Hungarian territory by an Aus
troHungarian subject The Servian government
had no direct responsibility for the crime In II
vague way II is charged that Servan secret soce-
ties and individual Servlans have engaged in an
agitntion which fomented crimes Of that sort on
the part Of Austro- Hungarian subjects
The government at Vienna demanded of the
hot al uubl n
measures to discountenance the activities of soci-
cites and individuals tending to inclte crimes like
that at Sarajevo. Servia recognized the propreiy
Of Austria-Hungary's representations and agreed
TO nearly all the Austro- Hungarian demands But
It naturally refused TO allow Austro- Hungarian
officials TO come into Servia and take part in the
suppression Of agitation and the punishment of
agitators TO permit that would have been clear
renuncaton Of sovereignty.
No doubt during Eenian and Land League DAYS
hundreds OF naturalzed Americans contributed in
money and other ways 10 encourage lawlessness In
Ireland. But the government OF Great Britain
would never have thought OF proposing to the
United States that British officials should come
here and participate with our officials in furnishing
these fomenters Of crime in another country.
Servia's attitude has been extremely conciliatory
from the point OF view OF international rights and
with little patience all the guarantees To which
Austria Hungary is entitled could easily have been
obtained through negotiation. It is, therefore the
worlds verdict that the viennese government was
oycr-hasty and dicta lorlal and that II has 10 lust
ground for threatening the peace Of Europe by
invading Serva
To precipitate general on so Hmsy pre-.
text would be n crime against civilization. The
other European powers owe II 10 humanity 10 pr,.
vent wanton breach OF the peace Of the Cont.
nent There is still some chance that reason viii,
prevail and that the trouble between Austria.
Hungary and Scrva will be medlated If II Is not.
war will be provoked from whose waste suffer.
ing and decentralization IT will take the world many
weary years 10 recover.