THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1909. WILL THERE BE WAR?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3091, 13 January 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1909. WILL THERE BE WAR?

According to the St, Petersburg correspondent of the "London Daily Telegraph" the question cf a European war is acquiring increased actuality, owing to the growing conviction in journalistic circles that an agreement between Austria and the Powers of the Triple Entente is becoming less and less likely. Russia's reply to Austria's Note was presented a few days ago to Baron von Aehrenthal by the Russian diplomatic representative at Vienna, but nothing is yet known as to the impression it has produced there. A feeling is gaining ground, ho says, that all the developments, diplomatic and other, which have taken place since the annexation were foreseen and reckoned with by Baron von Aehrenthal, all excepting the ruinous boycott of Austrian exports by Turkey. This one serious check, it is believed, may necessitate action for which the Austrian Foreign Secretary's original plan made no allowance. But, abstraction male from

this new factor, nothing has happened, and nothing is likely to happen, to induce or compel Baron von Aehrenthal to accept a compromise. The Russian press, however, continues to regard the question seriously, nay tragically. All the more remarkable, therefore, is an article from the pan of the influential political writer, Menshikoff, published in the "Novoye Vremya," and entitled "A Storm is Impending." The author maintains that Russia's only safe attitude during the impending struggle is rigorously to refrain from attacking Austria or Germany. "We do not possess in an adequate measure a navy nor an entirely trustworthy army, nor great leaders, nor money, nor that source of strength which is termed patriotism. I should consider myself a traitor to the Fatherland if I counselled the Government to pursue an aggressive policy. Defence is a different matter; every nation, strong or weak, should be ready to defend itself; and I insist on defence to the very end, to the last breath."