COUNT TISZA'S THREAT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2656, 30 December 1915, Page 7

COUNT TISZA'S THREAT

« BRITAIN'S "VULNERABLE POINTS. Count Tisza, the Austro-Hungarian PreJ mier, has come to tho aid of his German colleagues, who are trying to persuade the American public that the Allies are solely responsible for tho continuation of the war. "For the Central Powers," lie protested to Mr. von Wieeand, u;ho cabled his remarks to the- "New York World," "this war has had, from its inception, and 'has to-day the character of a d6fensivo war. We never had aggressive designs before tho war, we havo had none during tho war, and we shave none to-day. But we must have guarantees for our future security. • The continuation and duration of tile war lies not in our hands; it is not for those who are waging war for tho defence of their country to say when the wtir shall end. Only the attackers can end it." The count proceeded to discuss tho future of Serbia, prefacing his remarks with a cautious, "I don't like to conjecture or talk about tho possibilities of the future, i am no prophet." With this reservation, ho declared that ."Serbia will be diminished and weakened. How that will bo done remains, to be seen, but Serbia cannot be left so as to becomo a firebrand and a constant source of danger to tho peace of Austria-Hungary that sho has been in the past." Replying to Mr. von AViegand's suggestion that "Great Britain, through h.er destruction of the commerce and trade of Germany and Austria-Hungary, cau sit down aud wait, and thus force the Cen ; tral Powers to . peace," Count Tisza observed, "I think that impression, as well as many others, will be found to be erroneous and decoptive, and that such hopes, if England entertains them, arc doomed to disappointment. "It is true that wo cannot readily carry the war home to England by invading hor, but wo can give a heart-thrust to some of her Allies. With tho conclusion of the Serbian campaign we are going to havo a large number of troops free for use elsewhere. Just where I cannot tell you, but you oan look at the map, and, povhaps, not guess wrongly. "With'the way free to Constantinople, there are opened possibilities of . how Great Britain might bo touched at vulnerable points. As for Hungary, 'economically, ■ agriculturally, and militarily, like others of the Central Powers, sho can keep up tho war indefinitely." After observing that he was "sorry, yes, really soi'ry, that Hungary and England are now so far apart," in view of tho fact that tho bonds of sympathy created by analogous systems of government had always been • very strong between them, Count Tisza said ho fiuito understood Germany's hatred of Great Britain. "It was fateful that Great Britain should have succceded in impressing upon tho American people that the war was sought and stnrled by tho Central Powers. For Germany the war )s one oJ maritime despotism against maritime freedom." Count Tisza ended by denouncing tlioso who wcro "working for the fall of Sir Edward Grev," who could not. be blamed for diplomatic failure in the Balkans, "in June General von Hoeizendorf, chief of the Austrian stall, came to inn, and asked what diplomacy could do in-the Balkans. I toid him, "If you defeat the Russians, we shall be the greatest diplomats. If the Russians defent you, we shall ail bo donkeys. After tho war has once begun, tho diplomats can only bo tho exponents of such military situations as may develop or exist.'"