The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-18
The First Act of 1914

The burning of Count Berchtold's historic castle
of Buchlau which the press just has reported brings
to mind the fact that this the of the first
act in the great drama which resulted in the Eu-
ropean war of 1914
Russia long and egtinately had desired a warm
water port that her feet could have access to the
sea in cold Notwithstanding quite impossible in
the Baltic. From Catherine the Great until the Turk
ish war of 1878 she has sought to acquire the straits
leading out of the Black sea- But jealous England
always stood guard against this, and finally forced
Russia to surrender the fruits Of the victory OF 1878
Then Russia turned t. the Far East and obtained
Port Arthur But the japanese soon turned her out
of a satisfactory port on the Pacific result OF
the Russo-Japanese war of 1905. 1t was necessary
to return once more to the Black sea.
When Alexander Izvosk became foreign minister
of Russia he turned all his craft and energy into this
goal of getting the straits His first great stroke was
the diplomatic coup which led to the Inflated nego-
tiations over the annexation of Bosnia and Herze-
govna by Austria Hungary.
On July @ 1908, Izvolski sent a memoir to Count
Aehrenthal foreign minister of Austria, suggesting
among other things Russas desire to secure passage
for her warshps through the straits and the posi-
bty that Austria Hungary might strengthen her po-
sition in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Aehrenthal welcomed the suggestion and the two
IS, 1908. Berchtold was at that time Austrian am
baSsador to st. Petersburg.
The bargain was struck. Aehrenthal agreed
to support the opening Of the straits and Izvosk
sened to the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Izvosk overoyed left Buchlau for Paris and London
But Izvolsk had reckoned once again without the
willy and wary British lion. Paris only lukewarm
to the suggestion of opening the straits, and Grey
was adamant in refusing to tolerate the notion. IL
volskis scheme came then, to an ignomnious end
In the meantime Aehrenthal had proceeded to an
mex Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Britain had
blocked Russia from obtaining her end of the bargain
Izvolski's rage knew no bounds But he could not
take it out publicly on Britain and Grey Russia just
had divided Persia with England and the triple en-
tente Just had been cemented Further, the ever
bankrupt Izvoki was receiving money privately from
the British ambassador in st. Petersburg.
SO he took it all out on Aehrenthal. whom he &C
FUSED of deceiving and cheating him. But, as Pro-
lessor Fay has so clearly shown, Germany stepped in
and suggested way out which enabled Russia to save
uer face and preserve peace.
Yet this was the first great step which led to the
abyss. Friction between Austria and Serbia in
creased apace and never ceased until the fateful as
sassination OF Franz Ferdinand June %, 1914
1zvoski redoubled his efforts to get the straits
Failing in his negotiations with Turkey in 1911, anc
IN the Balkan league in 1928, he accepted the die
tu that "the road to Constantnope lies through Ber
lin" and got ready for the European After 191;
this seemed to him the only possible method of Sc
curing the straits
When war finally broke out in August, 1914 Il
volski was found gleefuy declaring this is my
But the war ended leaving Russia without her COW
eted straits and postponing until distant date
the final settlement of the eternal neareastern queS
ton