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Evening Star, Issue 13144, 28 December 1908, Page 4

M. IsvolSky, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has once The European again made plain the views SiWatlon. 0 f his Government on the Balkan crisis. It is distinctly adverse to the policy AustriaHungary has thought fit to pursue. This, from the British standpoint, is most satisfactory. Russia, through her Minister, has endorsed the view originally proclaimed by Sir Edward Grey at a time when all Europe was in a state of amazement over Austria's high-handed action. That view, it will be . ocallod, was " that no "Power can repudiate Treaty engagements "or modify Treaty provisions except with tthe consent of the contracting parlies by " mutual agreement." ■ Why so much significance is attached and publicity given to the Russian attitude is that the decisive voico largely re«ts with her. She is still a most formidable military Power, with the further advantage that her officers and men have recently had practical experience in modern warfare. Had Russia sided with Germany and Austria to the extent of accepting the annexation of Bosnia-Her-zegovina as an accomplished fact, and therefore outside the pale of either review or amendment, it would be at least open to doubt whether the protests of France and Great Britain and Italy, singly or combined, could have materially affected the situation.' Turkey then would have had to agree with her enemy quickly, whilst the opportunity presented itself, while Servia and Montenegro would hardly dare venture to push .their verbal protests to the decision of the sword. It is this firm stand taken by Russia and her adherence to international principles, which in the past had no more, ardent champion than Austria, that have added, possibly, an element of danger to the situation - , even though the policy of M. Isvolsky be •as correct as it is logical. The question has been narrowed down to this issue: Is the proposed Conference of the .European Powers to have the right impartially to examine and freely discuss all the circumstances surrounding ths annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina? Great Britain, France, Italy, and Russia say " Yes," unless solemn treaties are to' be broken at will and treated as so much waste paper j Austria and Germany, whilo'they do not unreservedly say "No," affirm that the annexations must be recognised, and that the Conference can merely confirm and not ainend them, which is of a piece with the earlier cynical defiance of European sentiment »nd national honor % Russia possibly may have come into line with. Austria and Germany had it not been that the Austriaa "pp>k" has roused an. intense-spirit

of wrath Montenegro and among thaJElnasian Slats. &j& this popular indignation perhaps, as a strict rfegard for. Ttexbta) that has caused Russia to place hers|]&]p sharp opposition to her Christian bors. She could not afford to demands of her own Slav element, could sbe look quietly on whilst the fate ox the Bognia-Herzegovinian Slavs was big sealed, and* 1 that of those in Servia and Montenegro was troubling in 'the balance. What Russia now proposes*is that Austria's action must be reviewed by , the Powers, that the solution of ttie problem must be both peaceful and legal, that Montenegro and Servia must restrain their passions, and that the union of the ; 83ay States must be brought about by moral means. M. IsvolskysT proposals are jlofr new; they merely elaborate and emphasise what has been said before; their interest, lies in the fact that they are now officially proclaimed as the policy of Russia. M. Klasovsky, speaking to a large gathering of Deputies to the Duma, members of the Council of the Empire, and others, at the Public Men's Olub, St. Petersburg, on No vember 12 last, outlined the policy that the Foreign Minister has now confirmed. He laid down that policy under three headings—,(l) Servia arid Montenegro must observe the greatest oiresumspection and ir.oderation, as independent action, would imperil their cause; (2) Austria-Hungary must be notified that any alteration of the conditions of the possession of Bosnia and Herzegovina could only ensue with the consent of the Powers; and (3) to summon a conference to revise the Treaty of Berlin, but on the express condition that such revision be fall, free, and without any reservations—that is, without preliminary recognition of annexation. Our cable messages show that M. Ltvolsky has accepted these as a correct summary of the Russian position. This being so, the allimportant question is; What next? Tne Austrian Press, we are advised, are angry, and loudly, affirming that the Russian attir tnde is a menace to peace, and that under, no circumstances will Austria-Hungary financially recoup Turkey for her lost suzerainty. More important still are the growls and mutterings from Germany. Russia, it is said, is advancing untenable demands, and Austria, with German backing, may go far to refuse them. The situ-; ation seems alive with possibilities of dis-' aster. How «:ah Russia effect that peaceful settlement she desires if Austria is allowed to have her own way? Will Servia and Montenegro in that event remain quiet? We are disposed to believe that the key to the crisis must be sought neither in St. Petersburg, nor Constantinople, nor in Vienna, but in Berlin. " The greatest danger to the peace of Europe," said the special correspondent of 'The Times', some six weeks ago, 'does not lie in the Balkan "Peninsula, or even at Vienna or at St. "Petersburg, but in the inscrutable designs of Berlin." The words were true then, and they are true to-day.

Ihe heavy rain that fell both on Boxing Day and yesterday had a bad,effect on the tram traffic, the returns showing a decided decrease as compared with the corresponding days last year. The amount taken on Bosmg Day was £233 14s 7d last year £273 5s 8d); Sunday, £7B 14s Id (last year £137 18s 8d). Last year's hgures were very high, as weather conditions, it will be remembered, were perfect and heavy loading to St. Clair resulted. The crowding of race .trains on holidays is unavoidable. It is part of the fun, and, though not pleasant, people put with it more or less good-naturedly. But there seems te be uo reason why men and boys snculd smoke in the carriages. The jour-i ney to Wmgatai is so short that they l could surely wait for a pull at the pipe or the more obnoxious cigarette. The smoking was a perfect nuisance both-ways on baturday, and ladies found it distressing, m the tunnels. If Mr Duncan could manage to prevent smoking on aDy pf the' race carnages he would earn the 1 thanks of the public at large, including many smokers. At the least it may be asked that smoking be restricted to the smoking carnages, and, unless there is some irrevocable regulation to the contrary, the officers of the department might conbider. the advisability of decreeing that on a Tourney of this sort, since ladies have to lump on where they can, all the cars are nonsmokers. At the Police Court on Friday, before Messrs M. Fraer and A. Judge, J.P.s, J. nomas Lynch was fined 5s for drunkenness, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. John Holmes, similarly ' was «md discharged. William Boyd, charged with drunkenness and with damaging a cab window, was convicted and discharged on the first charge and ordered to pay 8s damages on the second. William Henry Walden, for com-" mitting a breach of the peace, was fined 6s and coste. The heroes of the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava bid fair to become as famous for their longevity, as for their gallantly. It is fifty-four years since tuey cam© back from the jaws 'of death, all that was left of the Six Hundred, and at the annual commemoration banquet at the Crystal Palace, London, it was announced that none of the veterans had died during the year. The annual matinee in aid of the Balaolava survivors was held at the Allmmbra, and wns a great success. At the banquet the usual telegrams were received from the King and Queen. Florence Nightingale sent greetings to her "old friends," the "Memory of the Dead" was proposed< by J. Mustard (17th Lancers), and was received in silence, and afterwards the buglers i of the Royal Engineers sounded 'The last post.'

It is understood that the Port Navals took some visiting volunteers to the Heads' the other day to show them over the batteries, hut the corporal on duty, acting up to his instructions, refused to allow the visitors to see the batteries. In the interests of secrecy this is perhaps as it should be, but the strange feature of the arrangements is that volunteers, even in uniform,; are not permitted—except for practice firing—access to defences that are con-, structed by prisoners. Our prisons shelter many nationalities. Four holiday-makers, as a result of eeeking liquid aid too freely in the celebration of Boxing Day, awoke yesterday, morning in the police cells at Port Chalmers.. Liberty was regained by depositing 1& each as bail. This forenoon Mr G. L. Asher, J.P., sat on the bench of the local Police Court to adjudicate. They all come under the First Offenders Act. Th© ownerdid not respond to the first name called 1 out. and a fine of ss, with twenty-four hours' alternative, was recorded. * The owner of the second name called had left, on a departing steamer when liberated,' and his fine corresponded exactly with Wis bail. The next two answered to their names. The police said they were quiet men to arrest, and they were each fined ss, iri default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. I The first and the last two were charged 2s j each for the State board and lodging, the same policy of reimbursement probably accounting for the heavier fine' recorded against the man that went away an tb& steamer. , ! An Auckland telegram states that the ; Wakanui from London to-day brought 391 immigrants—lo9 for Auckland, 7 for Gis-! borne and Tauranga, 17 for Napier, 27* for New Plymouth, 92 for Wellington, 'it" for Nelson, 15 for Westport, 7 for Greymouth, 78 for Lyttelton, and 22 for Dun»! edin. The motor launch Muritai, one of the largest and fastest in the harbor, owned by Dr M'Kellar, met with an unfortunate accident on Thursday evening: Observing a smaller launch in trouble on the. Peninsula side of the harbor, the Mturiv tai went to her asaietaricej in : too close went ashore, a/id some water! came aboard and stopped the •.The machinery haß. beep reinoved fronfc the boat so that she may be ftoated-pff.

In this ißSue wfll be found the timetable of toft|road Bay passenger. J&omfc Mfctirig and ve*e4» Wye a vew number of during -the X Rptioe to markers of Loyal Hand anft BTfarfr Lodge, M.1TJ.0.Q,?,, appears op tfefa page.

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