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Evening Star, Issue 12101, 6 November 1908, Page 4

The message-; from Central Europe continue disquieting. The Talk oMVar. people of Servia are clamoring for they know not what. Excited crowds gather in the streets of Belgrade, swarm round the approaches to Parliament House, and appeal to tho members of the Government. Tho women, equally with the men, are participating in demonstrations which, if their organisers had their way, would end in war against Austria. Troops are said to bo guarding the heights around Belgrade, which is perilously near the AustroHungarian frontier, and the General Staff, bullion, and munitions of war are being hurried to Kracujevatz, in tho interior. The cause of these panic fears is not far to seek. Russian opinion, so far as it can be gathered, is distinctly hostile to the Austrian annexations of Bosnia-Herzego-vina, and the Czar recently cordially received the Crown Prince of Servia, who officially represented that Slav element which has appealed to its brethren in the north. The mission and its reception annoyed Austria, which promptly replied by hurrying reinforcements to the Servian frontier and massing troops and munitions of war. Should these reported movements he confirmed, we hav* at once the explanation and the cause of the wave of feeling that is sweeping over Servia. Nothing, therefore, would seem to be wanting save the careless or reckless act of one or more ill-balanced 'minds on either side of the border lino to set the Balkans in a blaze. Nor is it easy to foresee a way out. Austria, through her Alinister of Foreign Affairs, has plainly declined to submit the annexation of the provinces to review, and has, further, closed the path to a modus vivendi by refusing in similarly emphatic terms to grant territorial compensation to Servia. What, then, can Servia do? Her Alinister of Foreign Affaire has had an interview with Sir K. Grey, and informed the British Foreign Secretary what Servia considers should be given her in return for her acquiescence in the Austrian grab. The outcome of this request, both in Great Britain and itussia, as far as can be ascertained, is that tho Servian Government have officially disclaimed any bellicose intention, while tho Czar advises patience, and promises support only on condition that Servia abstains fropi every incautious and inconsiderate step. Tho position, therefore, would appear to be that the Servian Government have been warned to keep the peace, that the Servian people are urging resistance, and that Russia, Austria, and Servia are all disposing troops and war material at the places whore they are likely to be wanted. If we turn to the West, we find similar grave causes of anxiety. Germany, it is said, has demanded an apology from France over what is known as the Casablanca affair of September 27 last, and France, amid the applause of her Press and the approving “ hear, hears ” of many English newspapers, has flatly refused to do anything of the sort. Tho motive at the back of this unexpected and extraordinary request Germany’s critics are not slow to name. Prince Bulow, it is affirmed, is anxious to divert attention from the Kaiser's recent indiscretion in publishing his notorious interview, and the

alleged violence of French gendarmes in preventing German consular officials from smuggling French deserters out of Morocco offered itself aS a convenient pretext. This action of the Imperial Chancellor is the more inexplicable, as the Casablanca incident had already been referred .to The Hague Convention for adjudication, and the demand is made at a time when proposals to increase' the German taxpayers’ burden by £25,000,000 per an mini are now /before the Reichstag. Those who say that Germany wants war do not lack for material, and though we may dissent from their judgment, an impartial and dispassionate survey of the European situation strengthens the belief that the dread-issue of peace or war undoubtedly rests with Germany.