AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 252, 23 November 1903, Page 2

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

Centrifugal polities threaten, more powerfully than over, to rend Aus-tria-Hungary to pieces. For several years the rival nationalities have been setting up particularism with a virulence that is bfcmnd to end hj, disaster. To-day (writes the Argus's London correspondent) it is Hungary that has struck out in the direction of independence, and under circumstances of great gravity. The people have for along time been demanding what they consider to he important concessions for the army —tho use of Hungarian standards or emblems, more military instruction in the Hungarian (Magyar) lanyuagfj, the transference of Hungarian officers quartered in Austria to their own soil ; but the chief of their demands is tho use of Mafewar in words of command for the army. The Austrians are exceedingly annoyed at these aspirations. They point out the inconvenience of words of command being given in more than one language ; and, also, that of the fifty Hungarian regiments four only aro pure Magyar, and only nines have a majority of that race. The ramainder of the army iis mado up of Croatians, Slovaks, Roumanians, Rumanians, and Saxons, all of whom except the last might also claim to ho commanded in their own tongue, instead of in the hated German. Tho military authorities at Vienna are opposed to any concession in the matter of language, and the Hungarians have resented that attitude by refusing to endorse the military Bills intended to increase the army. The strain between Ihe two sections of the dual empire has been very severe for several weeks. It has led to a political crisis, to changes in the Premiership, and to the Emperor Francis Joseph making two journeys to Buda Pesth in order to bring atyout a reconciliation. liven his great personal influence failed to accomplish what he desired. On the contrary, 'his ordar of the day, issued recently, has fallen like a bombshell among the Hungarians. It has told them plainly that he insists upon the old principle of unity, and though he has more recently offered some concessions in the matter of education in the Magyar language, ho j s not disposed to permit any alteration in tho words of command in the Hungarian army. la the midst of tho discontent which has thus arisen, the War Minister in Vienna lias issued an order tJhat the men whose army service expires this month are to remain with the colours to the end of the year. This hos caused widespread indignation in Hungary. In some towns there have been thmultuous scenes, and a mutinous spirit among the men who expected to leave the army in « few days. Austria is embittered against Hungary for being the cause of all this trouble, and oven some Austrians arc callinig out for separat)io;n from Hungary as the Ijest nnoans to secure their own tranquility. The Emperor is the only man who can keep the various particularists in harmony. Nor is thwe any, clever, poiworful

statesman to assist tbe next occupier of the- throng. 11l view of the early future, ...100, it is exceedingly unfortunate that tho heir to the sovereignty has no force of character, and seems to hftvvj lio ideas of Government beyou-d invoking the assistance of the clerical leaders. A few more years will most likely see Europe with a mr.ch greater issue for settlement than the Turkish question.