THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 294, 7 December 1908, Page 2

THE BALKANS.

MEXACiNC; Pltlil'AiiATlOXS. ' WW TAKJ.NO A STAND. ..... . London, December 4. Olhcial reports contirm the rumo-» Hun Austria is increasing her army fr i lu' south by (iOjOOQ men Tlie Daily Telegraph's Paris eorr-s pumlcnt says Britain, France „n„ Itussia arc about to address to Austria linn representations regarding net menacing preparations, emphasising SerMas 'piompt and clleetive compliance with the recent appeal of the Poi.ers t". her to cease preparations for war.

TROOPS SAIL L'XDKR SEALED ORDERS. WHAT ARE AUSTRIA'S INTENTIONS? Received (i. 4.5 p.m. Vienna, December 5. Two steamers with troops left [•'iuinc (the only seaport town ot Hungary in the mirth--east portion of the Adriatic Sea), under sealed aiders. Their destination is believed to be Cattaro, the port of IJaliiuitia near Cettinje, the capital of .Montenegro. Two more follow.

ITALY AND AI'STRIA. j Rome, December 4. During the discussion in the Chamber of Deputies on Sig:uir Eusinato's motion expressing approval of tiiL- Government's policy in relation to the Balkan crisis, Signor Fordo described Austria s action in annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina as an effective violation of the Treaty of Berlin. The abandonment of Novibazar by Austria was insufficient compensation to Turkey, Austria ought also to evacuate Spizza (in the extretno south of Dalmatia). Austria's position in the Adriatic would lie greatly strengthened by the annexation of Bosnia, and this would also facilitate future I designs on Snlonica, besides preventing the formation of a great Serb State.

Italy, lie added, wan unable to oppose the annexation of the occupied provinces or to obtain compensation, but she could join in a conference with full liberty of judgment. Although Italy wished to remain loyal to the Triple Alliance, her loyalty to that alliance was daily becoming more difficult owing to Austria's construction of extraordinary and excessive armaments. The solution was such that Italy wa3 within danger of war. The Government ought, therefore, to complete the defences of the country. The speech was received with applause.

J XTERN ATIOX AL TREATIES UPHELD. OUTSPOKEN UTTERANCES. Received 0, 4.20 p.m. Rome, December 5. In the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Signor Fusinato's motion was adopted by 207 to 14U.

Signor Tittoni (Minister for Foreign Affairs), in upholding international treaties, declared that Austria, preferring u utilateral to a legal solution based on the consent of nil ihe Powers interested, had created •. dillicult and uncertain situation i:: K.uupe which would react on the interna! situation of the other States and deeply disturb their political atnio-pirT;'. lie declared that Signor Barzilui's .-uUement was unfounded.

Signor Tittoni added that the rapprochement of Italy and liu«ia was au fait accompli and bound to have important consequences in the future. A SENSATION CAUSED IX VIENNA.

Received 0, 4:20 p.m. I/union, December 5. The outspoken utterances of Ministers and ex-Ministers in the Italian Chamber of Deputies caused a sensation in Vienna and a profound impression in Paris, especially Signor Fortiso's declaration that the only State threatening Italy is her ally.

IN THE EVENT OF COMPLICATIONS. ITALY'S ASSURANCES, Received G, 4.20 p.m. London, December S. The Times' Paris correspondent says that the Italian Government lias already so far dissociated itself from the spirit of tiie Triple Alliance us to give France positive assurances regarding its attitude in the event of grave complications arising.

RACIAL PROBLEMS. ) HOY. 11l Moravia, as in the adjoining province of llolicmia, the Slavonic races, principally Czechs, predominate; and the simultaneous occurrence of anti-German and pro-Servian riots in both of these provinces is a further testimony to the power of Pan-Slavism. With" martial law in Prague, the capital of Bohemia, and serious rioting iu Brunn, the capital of Moravia, Austria-Hungary has to be on guard within her own borders, as well as beyond. It need scarcely be added that the Servian diplomacy which lias overlly appealed to Russia as the leader of the Slavs is also suspected of having covertly inspired the Slavonic races in Austria-Hungary with the importance of making demonstrations at the present pressing moment in the interests of the Servian branch of the great family. According to the census of 1890, of tile population of Austria the Slavonic races amounted to 14,121,000, the nonSlavonic to 9.443,000; of tile population of Hungary, the Slavonic races numbered 4,789,000, the non-Slavonic 1,233,000, The Germans, the leading nouSlavonic race, numbered, in both kingdoms, 10,508,000, As regards Moravia itself, tile population of that province is, to the extent of fully 70 per cent., Slavs (Czechs or Moravians); the rest are mostly of German race. Brunn, the capital, is an important industrial town of about 100,000 inhabitants.