AUSTRIA AND ALBANIA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1639, 4 January 1913, Page 6

AUSTRIA AND ALBANIA.

: ", '.'.,-'.- '■.": ,'-— »— '. —.'-:■ ,:' Even at tho endiof' the' ninotios (writes 0 an Austrian correspondent in the "Man--1 Chester Guardian") it was regarded as cers -tain that in caso of tho collapse of Tur--0 key, Austria would extend her, influence' a over the west of tho Balkans, and Russia over the cast.', Nothing of tho-sort has - huppmeuV Austria has watched tho ad-' t vauco of Servia and Bulgaria with folded p arms, and has, even against her own ih--1 tci'cst, allowed tho transport of Servian > war material, through - her ; territories,. ' .though she would have been in a position i- to deprive Scrvia of the means of.pre^ - paring for war. Austria' recognises tho principle. ' tho'Balkan'gJ for the Balkan [ peoples. .-This means that" the Balkan .•■ states are to take in those parts of Turi key; in Luropo'which are'inhabited bv I \^ e » co W triots - But if any of tho - Jialkan States goes beyond these natural l boundaries, then it is simply isubstituting another foreign domination for that of tho i lurks. Servia is now no longer satisfied l thatshe is abouv to-double, her territory • by incorporating the districts inhabited. ' A, y n rbsj f?,°- w !slics to gain;possession of - Northern Albania and becomo an Adriatic • £owcr. ,- Northern Albania hates every' thing Serb,.yot it is to becomo-part of the beryian State, and Servia is prepared to forget the objections to foreign domination which shp has held so -strongly, Europo is told that Servia,' which has hitherto lacked,a coastline, is aiming at an open way, or,, as it is euphemistically oipressDd, merely a corridor, to the sea, so as to secure her economic independence Austria. Austria has:nothing to", say against this wish, and has no objection to bervia seeking for a way to tho Aegean boa,.or to her gaining the fimuso of an Albanian harbour, with corresponding iniluenco.on a railway lino connecting it with Servia: . Austria thereby makes it clear once again that she has no intention of cutting off Servia from tho sea. . Tho practical senso of tho English people will recognise' that with peoples, as with individuals, "every. State's houso is its castle,* and that in the relations between Austria and Servia a point has been reached when Austria can no, longer regard merely tho wishes, however well, founded, of Servia, but must look to her own interests. For Austria, Trieste, and Fiume are tho only doors by which her goods can reach tho open sea. Austria will not and cannot under any circum-r stances, allow* the way to bo barred unless she is willing to givo up her position as a. great State and a commercial country. Tho acquisition of Northern Al-: bania by Servia would be tho greatest pos-' siblo monaco to tho maritime position of Austria. Tho distribution of power in tho Adriatic has hitherto rested bn tho ' principle "tho west to Italy and tho east \ to Austria." But if Servia establishes | herself on tho cast coast, then the balance j of power \vill bo disturbed, greatly to . Austria's disadvantage, and tho way i through tho Straits of Otranto nmy oven ] bo closed. Tho English people, which i has kept open tho sea road to India'so t energetically, .will understand that Aus- j tria cannot lot herself bo deprived of lier . only way to tho open sea, which, besidos, i she has possessed for centuries. It is no longer a question of prestige; Austria's very existence is at state. ,< It must llot ' 10 objected that Servia is < much.loci weak to bo a serious danuorlto ( Austria on tho-sea. Behind Servia t stands a greater and iiioro threatening t will. Sorvin would never think of en-, ( tcrihg into coulliet with Austria I sho knew that Russia stood behind her. c Austria's refusal to permit tho permanent r annexation of Northern Albania by Servia i means simply that sho has no' intention of r letting Russia gain an influence in tho v Adriatic. ThoAustro-Servian difficulty, v it is generally recognised, .is really a con- a ilict of interests .between Austria and Rus- f sin. Russia is tho assailant; Austria is s simply defending herself. If Servia wero f in possession of Northern Albania, Russia I would hnvo a point of vnntngo in-tho s Adriatic, from which sho could' never n again bo dislodged. Tho English people. i, will rccogniso that this nltertition of tho d lialnnco of power in, tho Mediterranean ti might bo,not without danger to England oi ioo. Austria has so far dono nothing in:onsistent with hor expressed wish for icnco; perhaps she-hns gono rather too ni Vir in.that direction, But now, at nnv w ■ate,' is tho moment to remember tho old tl English principle- ."My houso is my is :astle." : - '.'.'■'... ' ---. ,pi ,L^.-^iai~-T3-'.'; . ; . \ « Messrs:-Dalgety;and Co., Ltd., Welling- -„', on, advertise full particulars regarding '.-, :he sale of an. 85-aero dairy farm in tho hi aonawatu djstriot, ■' i ! -ii