New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-08-08
BALKAN STATES AS
TROUBLING ELEMENT
Almost Always Disturbed Peace
Of Europe, Kord Says

Villa mstown, Mass, Aug. s.
Almost always it was the Balkans
which caused trouble between Russia
and Austria in the last half century,
Baron Sergius A. Korff, former
deputy governor general of Finland,
explained this morning in his lecture
before the institute of politics at
Williams college. The subject of bis
address was Russian-Austrian rela-
tons, which he said fell into three
periods: From 1878 to 1897 when
distinct tension was generally evil
dent; from 1897 to 1903, a time of
relative friendship; and from 1908 to
1924 period during which relations
grew steadily worse until a final
break became inevitable.
! In the course of his lecture which
carried him to the threshold of the
Eworld war Baron Korff declared that
the more recent strain in the rela-
tons between the two countries was
largely due to Count Aehrenthal,
former minister of foreign affairs. in
Russia. who from the start had two
political objects in view as his future
policy: The establishment of Aus
trial supremacy in Serbia and the
ousting of Russian influence. D'Aeh-
renthal was very clever and astute
and had what not many Austrian
statesmen had possessed before him
firmness OF character and clear vision
of what was going on In the other
capitals Of Europe, especially in Rus
STA. One must say that old Austria
had educated a wonderful school OF
diplomats and bureaucratic who ad-
minisctered that cheered empire as
, we'll as it was possibfe. This is per-
ihaps the only merit Of this defunct
state, which was really an abstrac-
!, ltion, not a nation. There was not
even national culture to back the
! government"
The Balkan Wars.
. Discussing the Balkan wars OF
5 1s12-13 and their effect on world
politics, the speaker said:
These wars changed the whole
aspect of the Near East policies OF
the Russian government and her re.
lations with Austria. The first
war and especially the alliance Of the
Balkan people, greatly alarmed
Vienna for they were exactly contrary
to her interests However. she soor
saw that the alliance would not las
and that Russia had not the infiu
ence that she had at first suspected
The quarrels between the Balkan al
: lies filed Vienna with joy. AS noted
= French writer said The hatred o.
! to definitely break up the Balkan
a bloc
t This meant the estrangement- O.
| 10 p,,lc, ri. ho Of he,
t Russia got away from Bulgaria tn,
( eo sjer did it become for Vienna anc
5 Berlin to spread their own propa
lganda among the Bulgarian people
$ The consequence of this began to 'el
n at once after the great war brok
9 out and led Bulgaria to take side
with the Teuton allies.
"The liquidation of . the Balkan
WARS was assisted by the united &C
ton of Russia and Austria but thi
gave the latter an important trum]
land helped to establish some of he
influence in the Balkans-the plac
= where a serious tragedy was develop
ing the great conflict Of Slavism W
Teutonism.
Russia could not afford the victor
. OF the latter and get Germany
- Drang Mach Osten' seemed at time
impossible to fight or to stop.
II WAS developing SO rapidly and 81
"a cleverely and receiving from Berl.
% a tremendous impetus. Great Britai
W was also alarmed and so much tina
IL she forgot her century old feud wit
- Russia concerning Constantine pl
IS = and was willing to back Russia
N claims to the extent of establishin
i'd an entente with Russia
al