INTERNATIONAL CRISIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7728, 23 February 1909, Page 2

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS.

Received February 28, 9.35 p.m. . VIENNA, February 22. -Official circles at Vienna declare that Austria will not assume the offensive . PARIS, February 22.' Austria s declaration is credited "at Paris but Servian provocations are apprehended. . LONDON, February 22. Ihe limes' Belgrade correspondent affirms that M. Pessrvitch is the only beman politician who refrained from the- use of inflammatory language. The excitement is maintained at fever heat. The public apparently over-estimated their powers as pan-Servians. The Montenegrins are irreconcilably warlike and ignorant of outside affairs.

KING FERDINAND

In response to the Porte's circular complaining of the Royal honours bestowed upon King Ferdinand at St. Petersburg, Britain and France have forwarded tranquilising dispatches to the Porte, declaring their entente with Turkey m the first instance, and then stating that Turkey's consent with the other Powers must precede any recognition of the independence of Bulgaria ST. PETERSBURG, February 22. M. Isvolsky informed the Ambassadors that King Ferdinand expressed a desire to attend the funeral of his relative by marriage. M. Isvolsky was careful to explain that his reception as a sovereign did not. imply the formal recognition of Bulgarian independence, which could follow only after Turkey's consent.

(Received February 23, 8.5 a.m.)

ST PETERSBURG, February 22. The difficulties connected with precedence m King Ferdinand's case were tactfully avoided, and the St Petersburg documents do not mention the royal title. The official reception pleased the Russians, but feeling m Bulgaria is sore, inasmuch as Russia's recognition of Ferdinand is so manifestly premature, isolated and informal.