GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3195, 22 May 1909, Page 3

GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

Dr. Dillon devotes the greater part of his monthly disquisition on foreign affairs in the latest Contemporary Review to the annexation by Austria of Bosnia-Herze-govina, and to the circumstances surrounding that abrupt act It will be remembered that the sanction of Russia to this proceeding was obtained by a thrsat on the part of Germany to n-.obilise a strong military force on the frontier of her northern neighbour, which proved that the latter was backing up Austria in her aggressive policy. Now, as we are reminded, although these two nations have few political interests in common, ihey have, at the present time, none that are conflicting 1 . "Moreover," writes Dr. Dillon, "They are the only two European States that firmly believe in physical force, and act in harmony with their faith. Thoy alone dispose of formidable armies, ready to strike at tha shortest possible notice. Consequently it is of the utmost moment that neither should strain at the unpleasant duty of supporting the other, even when the struggle in which the other is engaged concerns itself alune." Germany does not care two straws in all probability, about the two Balkan provinces, which Austria has administered ever since the Treaty of Berlin and has now annexed; but Germa'y is "spoiling for a fight," in which she may have to enconter Great Britain, France ard Russia; but, strong as she is, she would like to be reinforced by the power of AustriaHungary. And is it rot a significant tact that just at this juncture in the history of the latter, she is beginning to build some Dreadnoughts, and to strengthen her navy in other directions, which is tantamount, in the circumstances, ' to a commensurate addition to tha German fleet? At the same time, this may be counterbalanced, in the event of a great naval wsr, by Italy taking part in the conflict, for she views with natural suspicion and dislike the extension of Austrian territory on , the eastern side of the Adriati". Dr. ; Dillion believed, the danger-of war to be imminent. Nevertheless, he i adds, "if blcodshed be inevitable I lam perfectly satisfied that the | hostilities will be localised and con- , fined to Balkan Peninsula*. A European war, after so much diplomatic fencing, and under such conditions as we know prevail, appears to be wholly eliminated."