The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-27
SERVIA, AUSTRIA AND
THE POWERS

The powers are responsible for the
threatened war between Austria and
Servia. II they had not calmly 40
quiesced in the seizure of Bosnia and
Herzegovina by Austria in 1905 there
would be no trouble now. II they
had not thwurted the arrangement
by which Servia was to receive a great
part or Albania at the close OF the
Ralkan war this present trouble. in
all likelihood. would not have arisen.
II they had not done so the present
troubles In Albania could not have
occurred and George Fred williams
might still be our minister to Greece
II fs easy to locate responsibility
'hls way, easy to criticize, when the
alternative prese TO the powers
in each instance is not considered: bn,
when the question is asked. What
would have happened had the powers
acted otherwise? realization is gained
OK the difficulty of the problem pre-
scented to them Keeping the balance
Of power adjusted is no child's game.
teXtng questions. threatening ques-
tons, have arisen at frequent inter-
walls since the treaty Of Berlin in
1873. more than once warfare or a
huge scale has nenaced Europe It
at least can be said for the powers,
or for the diplomats who have repre-
sented them in these trying times.
that they have kept the peace. so
far as the great nations are con-
cerned. Their actions have given Ser
Via and Albania reasons 10 raise the
cry of Injustice, bur anything else they
might have done would probably have
given greater grievance to other ma
tiors
The Serbs are a proud people. They
once dominated the whole OF the
Balkan peninsula In the fourteenth
century. under Stephen Dushan. Ser
Via was among the leaders Of the
European States In the matter Of
civilization. Then came the invasion
of the Turks and the defeat Of tina
servian army in the celebrated bat
tie of kosovo, That was 500 years
ago, but 10 this day the Serb hards
sing. In a cycle Of national songs. me
mournful story of the disaster For
500 years the Serbs dreamed Of ven
geance, on the Turks and two years
ago. at kamanoeo, they saw their
dreams come true. AS result of the
war OF the allies against Turkey Ser
Was territory was largely increased.
in spite OF the fact that Albania was
denied her. and as a result Of the war
between the BafkaH afiius themselves
Its acccsStons of territory were Vet
greater. This naturally stirred might
ily the never quiescent fire of Servian
PATRIOTISM. fefiing against Austria
has been high IN Seryia ever since
the seizure Of Bosnia and Hergegn-
VIVA. and it grew yet stronger when
Austrian diplomacy prevented Servia
from acquiring an A3r.attc seaport
after the Balkan war.
Ethnoogically the people OF Serv,a.
of Bosnia, OF Herzegovina OF Dalsna-
tia, Of Montenegro and certain sec
uons of the south of Hungary are
the same. 1t has long been dream
az the xervlans to unite them as one
nation. Montenegro, the only other
free nation among those mentioned.
IS apparently IN sympathy with this
idea. This Is what the Pan-Seryian
movement is. this Is what the Pan
Servian union seeks to bring about.
And this is what has led to the ult,-
matam from Austria to Serv!a.
The gravity Of the situation lies In
the danger that If war is declared It
Will not be confined to Austria and
Servta' Russia has already been
drawn into the controversy through
ITS decision to ask Austria to extend
the period allowed for Servia's reply
10 the ultinatum Semi-official news
papers in Germany have responded to
this news by asserting that ii any
other power interferes in the quarrel
between Austria and Servia Germany
i
sta Is drawn into the conflict, ana
Germany. then Italy must come to the
help OF her German ally and Russia
Will have the support of the two other
powers OF the Triple Entente, Great
Britain and France, And thus all the
powers would be grouped in a war
fare which. IL it comes. will be an
outcome Of the powers own action In
1909.
In the very greatness Of the threat
ened conflict lies the brightest hope
that II will never come TO pass The
thought is staggering. No one knows
what might happen II such warfare
resulted-neither kings nor ministers
nor diplomats nor f1nanciera The
aforementioned group are a great fac.
tor for peace in these days, They
may be interested In stirring UP pretty
wars, or wars In which the result
would be certain. like the trouble
which some of them have been trying
70 foment between this country ana
Mexico, but they shudder beyond
measure at the thought OF warfare
involving the big European States
with its disastrous effects upon tha
markets of the world And they arc
a very influential class Of people
Consequently. in spite OF the alarm.
ing appearance of things. a peaceabla
settlement Of the Servian trouble NAV
yet be hoped for. And that hope IA
increased by the fact that most OF the
nations involved have plenty of sc.
rious issues at home to occupy their
attention. Diplomacy may yet prove
Observation-Disclosures Sun.