The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1917. TROUBLE IN THE DUAL MONARCHY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1917. TROUBLE IN THE DUAL MONARCHY

Decent cable messages have indi- ' catecl a condition of internal unrest in the Ausfcro-Hungarian Empire which may have important consequencca on the war situation. _ It is generally known that thcro is a VGVy deep-rooted jealousy between Austria and Hungary, and the view was widely held that with tho death of the Emperok Ekancis Joseph a crisis would be reached. The Hungarians have been exploited industrially by tho Austrians in times of peace, but since the war and the British blockade Hungary has had the upper hand, owing to the need of iood-stuffs which Austria has to look to her to supply. This, of course, is only ono of many factors in a situation teeming with possibilities of misunderstanding, racial hatreds, and political jealousies; and tho new Emperor has had his hands very full since his accession to the throne lin soeking to smooth over the troubles wnicH he found facing him and in striving to bring about something like unity in the Dual Empire. The evil genius of the situation has been Count Tisza, Prime Minister of Hungary, and the immediate difficulties of the moment arise out of the necessity for a renewal of the Ausgleich or economic agreement between Austria and Hungary. This agreement, which is ono of jjho principal elements in the union of the two kingdoms, has to bo renewed every ten years, and 1917 is the year of its renewal. So far every effort to arrive at an agreement has failed, and the now Emperor has expressed his displeasure thereat in unmistakable terms. Ho has urged that Austria should give way and compromise on certain disputed points, but the stumbling-block is the-question of food supplies from Hungary for Austria, and it seems that its removal is impossible, and for a very obvious reason. The Austrian Parliament will not be satisfied with any agreement which will not ensure a sufficient supply of cereals for Austria, while the Hungarian Parliament is equally determined that Hungary shall not be depleted and go short for the sake of Austria; and as the supplyis not sufficient for both a solution of the difficulty cannot, in the state of antagonism which exists, be found.

Out of the embarrassments thus occasioned developments havo occurred which may ha-vo far-reaching consequences. The now Emperor is bitterly resontful of the dominance gained by the Kaiser and his generals over the Austro-Hungarian forces ancl tho influence exercised throughout his empire by Germans and pro-Germans. Soon after tho death of Francis .Joseph it was stated that the _ Emperor Charles and his now advisers wero preparing important steps towards emancipating Austrian army from the humiliation of German control. After General victories in 1916 the Germans assumed command of everybody and everything in Austria. Gorman staff officers wore appointed to every responsible post: the Germanii assumed control of tho entire war zone behind tho trenches, and tho result has been that Austria is inundated with German officials. Tho task which the Emperor Chafes has set himself of ridding his empiro of these intruders is a popular one with his people, but not so altogether with somo of tho politicians, who are regarded as the tools of Germany, j Ono. of the most powerful of these ' is Count Tisza, for long considered j the most powerful iriflucnm in | Austro-JJ ii ngary. Count Tihza apparently has come into conflict with the Emperor, and according to tho latest European files to band, and supported by rcccnt cablegrams, it ia Count Tikza aatl not the Emperor who will nome off nccnnd in 111, rnnlr:;l. Sn f;uhack ;is (lie hngim.inp nf January tho downfall of the Tisza Government and tlw formation of a Ccki

aJition Government Was predicted in Hungarian Mewupapers, and tho story was rotated in a cable message receivyju 011 Tuesday last What this moans is Explained by the Budft lesth correspondent of the Xnmnff I'nsi in the course of a suney of tho situation, dated December 30, 19] 6:

I wish to point out particularlr, this correspondent remarked, that the fall of t'Ount Tisza, which causes B0 much commotion ovorywhere, is uofc to be rc"im! nl'V 1)0l i tlCal , nffair , t ,Y l!ich concerns Ujo Monarchy only. Tho Hungarian ] 111110 Minister lias throughout playod a most prommont part in bringing about the war and in tho war policy ot tho Contra! Empires. He wnß instrumental n establishing Gorman domination willun and beyond (.ho Monarchy, and was the dupo of Germany with' regard 10 nor ambition to control ono half of Imropo for the furtherance of this scheme regarding the Near East, known as tho Bagdad-Berlin sehenio. It was ho who helped tho Germans to establish llio military unity," the single command, and thus enabled tlicm to lay hands on tho armies of the Monarchy in such 11. manner ns to make disentanglement impossible, and it was ho who silenced tho Hungarian Press aud Opposition in the interests of Germany and Austria. Ilis services, in fact, have been invaluablo to the German Government in semiring for it the political and military advantages it possesses at. present in the Central Empires. Count Tisza's fate, therefore, is a question of immense importance from Hie point of view of the present world 'conflagration. The ! Monarchy is an indispensable asset (o [ Germany, and therefore it is a matter of supremo importance to her whether its destinies are to be controlled by her sworn friend and ally Count Tisza or a roung and vigorous ruler resolved 011 concluding peace.

This suggestion thai, tho now Emperor is working for peace has found support in a good many directions, but it would bo unwise to build any strong hopes on this fact. Tho idea, of a separate pcacc with Austro-Hungary has been freely discussed, but the difficulties in tho way of arranging mutually satisfactory peace terms seem insuperable at the present time. In discussing the situation which has resulted from the activities of the new Empbkoe, the correspondent of the Westminster Gazette has something to say on tho question of peace:

■lho most significant action of tho new hmporor, ho remarks, lies in his tfcndins Count. Cioluchowski, who had boon nominated as Chancellor for tho now GaUcia which was to be established under tho Polish scheme. into Switzerland to discover the real attitude of tho Entente towards tlio Dual Monarchy. That this was his mission, that he actually sounded the jjossibilities of a separate peace, was well known in certain diplomatic circles in London, last week. But it was merely the possibilities. i separate peace has not yet entered tho domain of probability. That Charles should bo willing to consider tho possi- . bility of a separate peace is, however, an emphatic portent. But our duties to our Allies no less than (.0 the future security of Buropo demand that, while we should not absolutely closo the door against a, possiblo soparate peacc, we should insist in very plain and uimiistakablo language upon tho fulfilment of certain conditions. The demands of our Allies must bo satisfied, but guarantees must also bo secured against future aggression and futuro oppression of the subject nationalities of the Dual Monarchy. It may bo that these guarantees oan onlv bo secured by tho disappearance of the Bapsburg: dynasty. The course of the war, the futuro policy of Charles, must determine this issue. The .position of Charles at the present moment, however, is indeed precarious. If lie wore assured of tho support of tho South German States—and, incidentally, ■we should never forgot that liis mother came from Saxony—ho might, in company with. Bulgaria, risk everything and directly approach tho Entente. , . . Without tho support of the South German States, however, a separate peace is almost impossible. Henca while 110 pursues a vigorous anti-Prus-sian policy in Austria and openly threatens Berlin with defection, tho Emperor Charles is very careful to retain some 6emblance of connection witTt Prussia. . . . What Francis Joseph could not resist it is hardly possiblo Charles could oppose.

Meanwhile, the internal struggle in the Dual Monarchy goes on with increasing bitterness. • Peace may not come through the Empeeoe's efforts, but it may_ be hastened by the widening divisions in the ranks of his people.