New-York tribune., 1917-07-29
The Problem of
Austria Hungary

AuSlI Id Il UAASdI
i1uE question of Austria's future is
III noised and contemplated by Vladi-
i mir Nosek in G. X. Chesterton's
imp The New Witness" He af-
/ es that;
,,arer We approach the end Of the
:. more urgent becomes the problem
. ,.,,ria- Hungary, which is the crucial
~ the war The Importance of this
=. e rot sufficiently understood among
rI;ss. nor the role played by Austria
= /, this war. There is still sec
= ,u5He opinion in England persisting
:. 5,ngerous illusion that Austria-Hun-
abe 20 turn over a new leaf, that
-. merely victim of Germany's i'm
Ia ,nbjtions and that she has genuine
..o,s 10 detsch herself from Germany.
sistorical truth that Austria Hungary
=. willing and wilful accomplice Of
- in so far as she actually provoked
~.r in her own as we'll as in Germany's
-. seems 70 have been easily for
j -, Insignificant changes in the Dual
..-.sv since the accession Of the En-
i -.rbarles served to these Austrophiles as
~. that Austria is trying 70 detach her
rom her German ally, Notwithstanding
i ;,,ossibility for Austria TO conclude
.,-te peace owing TO her armies being
..--ixed with German troops. Tisza's
.,,,su as we'll was hailed by these misin-
"a vould-be politicians as signifying
-. Of policy in favor OF the Allies, al
- the Magyar Opposition leaders,
-, Andrassy, Apponyi and Karolyi, are
/ !. IS good friends of Germany as Tiszs
...Y and Just as resolved to suppress all
.-p.ryar peoples in Hungary as the rest
1 v,gyar chauvinists. The fact is that
=, had 10 60, as he was opposed TO all
-.,.i,s reforms and could not be per-
Id that a complete victory for the Cen
! Powers is 10 more possible and that an
i--sHs,e peace therefore must be concluded
] s,rnany. Austria and Hungary are 70 be
ysi from disaster.
Clew to a Pulling
nd Intricate Situation
.i-S here we come to the root, here we
!. The elew 10 the situation which enables
. understand why the Emperor Charles
rpnising autonomy 10 the Czechs and
--,slsvs, Why Tisza was deposed by Mag
. r paeifst and why the Austrian Reichsrat
4, ,onvoked. All these are part and parcel
Z, rest German plot to deceive the Allies
. = 70 lure them into the premature peace
u
ne Germans and Magyars feel that
-l,rgsron Of the war means victory for
!, Allies and death 70 Austria-Hungary
rae existence is absolutely necessary for
s-any's purposes. Furthermore, the Haps-
-s and Hohenzollerns see that the Allies
g. 70 longer under any illusions about the
= state Of affairs in Austria-Hungary,
r the Injustice Of the sinister German
b-ur beeemonv in Central Europe has
: discovered and that the just national
rs Of the oppressed Slav and Latin ma
xsEties are we'll understood and recog-
lsd by the Allies.
For this reason the Hapsburgs think 1t
L 20 promise concessions which they can at
y future moment abolish, as they have so
any times done before. And a so-called
szocratic regime is put up in order to de-
sys free Russia, because with the old sys-
z Of terrorism and absolutism the Haps-
-c could not possibly hope to induce Rus
a 70 conclude peace, which the Central
''Ters 50 fervently desire.
here Is Divided Opinion
.oncerning Austria
This should always be borne in mind when
!, peace terms with Austria are discussed.
.',srslly speaking, public opinion in the
Lied countries is divided on the question
Z A1yt-is- Hungary. A large part advocates
e is.al dismenberment Of the Dual Mon
NY ard a complete liberation Of the sub
r. rl;ionslities; the other part, consisting
. i,glard Of pacifsts and some Liberals,
s''isH Home Rule all-around' by means
q is.eration Of four or FIVE units, forget
- q course, that such solution would
aTs the Czechoslovaks, Poles, Ruthenes,
l.-s-ians and Southern Slavs racially di-
-ss4, Unless Hungary is broken up, which
Z Nagyars will never permit, and unless
4 Ehole Of Poland, Ukraina, Rumania and
ssa are annexed by Austria-Hungary,
'aea again free Russia and her allies can
* allow.
Tie Germans and Magyars, too, have
II programme in Austria-Hungary; they
s-a,d complete Germanization Of Austria
= 1agyarization Of Hungary. This pro-
1-zs evidently aims at the extirpation OF
Savs and Latins and the final ineorpo-
~ Of the Dual Monarchy in the German
Sf's. On the other hand, the Czeeho-
Tlss ard the Poles demand the restora-
= Of their national unity and ancient in
7s-deree, while the Italians, Southern
N' and Rumanians desire 70 be reunited
q iheir respective kinsmen in the neigh-
T,s states Of Italy, Serbia and Rumania.
/. face Of these conflicting demands the
aAsurgs fnd themselves in dilemma
70 they are unable 20 overcome. Ihe
s'sroY Charles would agree 20 almost any
2 only 70 save his throne and empire.
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