RUSSIA'S DILEMMA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1908, Page 7

RUSSIA'S DILEMMA.

TRYING TO AVOID A CONFERENCE. ANNEXATION QUESTION. HOW IT MAY BE WORKED. By Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, 31st October.

The Morning Post's St. Petersburg correspondent mentions the fact that an effort is being made to secure a postponement of formal recognition of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by resisting Austria's demand that recognition of such annexation snail be a prerequisite of the holding of a conference. This would force Austria to decline- to attend the conference, which must then collapse and relieve Russia from the unpleasant necessity of proposing the abandonment of the conference. This explains the appearance of the I simultaneous statement by the St. Petersburg correspondent of The Times — that M. Isvolsky's position is at present secure. ST. PETERSBURG, 31st In a speech by Count Brobinsky, at a Slavophile meeting in St. Petersburg, he declared tha* if the Government recognised the act of annexation it would be forced to disperse the Duma. This is the impression that prevail* among all the members of the Duma. THE TSAR'S ADVICE. PATIENCE ON THE PART OP SERVTA. LONDON, 31st October. I Reuter's St. Petersburg correspondent reports that the Tsar granted an audience to the Crown Prince of Servia, and to M. Pastich, ex-Premier, who were the bearers of a letter from King Peter asking the Tsar not v to endorse Austria's act. His Majesty's reply counselled calmness and patience on the part of the Servian Government and people. TURKISH GOVERNMENT CIRCULAR. PUBLIC AND BOYCOTT OP AUSTRIAN GOODS. CONSTANTINOPLE, 31st October. The Porte, in the course of a circular addressed to the people of the provinces, declares that the public is at liberty to decide for itself whether to purchase Austrian goods or not. It points out, however, that a popular demonstration is really unnecessary, since the Government has entered its protest against the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, COMPENSATION FOR SERVIA. A COURSE PROPOSED. LONDON, 31st October. Tho Belgrade correspondent of The Times says that the demand for territorial compensation for Servia, in consideration of Austria's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is admittedly beset by difficulties. If these difficulties prove insurmountable Servia will urge that th& annexation question remain open and not be submitted to the European Conference. By the adoption of this course it is hoped that, so long as the Powers do not ratify the act of annexation, Servian demands will have some chance of being considered.