AUSTRIA'S COUP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 132, 22 October 1912, Page 4

AUSTRIA'S COUP.

At the present juncture, when all eyes in Europe are turned anxiously towards the Balkans, it is of interest to recall the principal incidents of the last Baljkan crisis, precipitated by the Turkish Revolution, the annexation by Austria of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the declaration of Bulgarian independence. The story is neatly summarised in Mr. G. H. Perris' recently-published book, "Our Foreign Policy," which although written primarily as an indictment of the methods of Sir Edward Grey, presents in a fairly reliable and eminently readable form the salient features of the' diplomatic activities of Europe during the past forty years. In his account of the

Balkan crisis of 1908-9, Mr. Perris makes Count von Aehrenthal, the Austrian Foreign Minister, the hero—or the villain—of the piece._ The independence of Bulgaria was in itself nothing, as the country already was practically independent, and the annexation of Bosnia-Herzego-vina was negligible in view of the fact that Austria held these States even more firmly than Britain holds Egypt. The plot hatched by von Aehrenthal, and carried out in the short space of two months, was a blow at the prestige of Young Turkey, intended to precipitate a general scramble in which Turkey might be destroyed and Salonika might become an Austrian port. Austria did not succeed in what Mr. Perris concludes was the whole of her design, but von Aehrenthal showed " Bismarckian ability" in carrying out his plans. On August 12, 1903. it was announced by

Sir Charles Hardinge and Baron von Aehrenthal that the Cabinets of the I great Powers had resolved on a "sympathetic and observant" attitude towards Young Turkey. Von Aehrenthal went straight' from the. conference at -which this announcement was arranged and proceeded to carry out his plot against TJurkey. First lie met Signer Tittoni at Salzburg. As a result, Italy was let into the secret and "squared." Then von Aehrenthal attended a meeting of the Hungarian Cabinet, and Hungary was "squared," Austria promising support to a reactionary franchise scheme favorable to Magyar ascendency. Russia remained to be dealt with,' and a promise that the Dardanelles should be opened and a benevolent eye cast upon Russian interests in the Middle East secured Russia's co-operation. Britain was left out of the conspiracy altogether, and when in the early days of October, 1008.

the two Turkish provinces were annexed . and Bulgaria announced her independence, Britain demanded an International Conference, but a .conference was never granted. Servia and Montenegro began to threaten war and to demand compensation, and the second chapter of the story of von Aehrenthal's coup has now commenced with, Montenegro's, declaration of war..