COMING EUROPEAN PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15824, 24 July 1913, Page 5

COMING EUROPEAN PROBLEM

THE DANGER OF AUSTRIAHUNGARY. AWAKENING OF THE SLAVONIC NATIONS. (Fbom Our Own Cobrespondent.) LONDON, June 11. Tho problem of Austria-Hungary is the problem of Europe, and it is disoussed by "Politicus" in the Fortnightly Renew in an able and entertaining manner. . AustriaHunffaiy has arrived at a turning point m her chequered .history. The Balkan clangor is passing, and its place will probably bo taken by the equally difficult one ot the dual monarchy. Austria-Hungary has 50,000,000 inhabitants, and of these, "Politicus" points out, only 20,000,000 are, according to the latest census, Austro-Germans and Hungarian Magyars. These 20,000,000, however, are tho ruling raoe. Of the remaining 30,000,000 no fewer than 25,000,000 are Slavs and 3,500,000 are Roumanians. "In AustriaHungary) in ancient Turkey, tho Slavs and Roumanians are tho subject races. The Slavs in Russia and in tho Balkan States and the Roumanians in Roumania sympathise with their oppressed brothers in Austria-Hungary, They wish them to be free, and it is oonccivablo that they may endeavour to liberate them. The Balkan wars have furnished an excellent precedent. It must not be forgotten that Russia, the Balkan _ State, and Roumania can profit territorially very greatly by 6uch a policy. Roumania and Serv : a 03n almost double their territory and their population by the acquisition of those parts of AustriaHungary which tre principally inhabitated by _ Roumanians and Servians. The territories inhabited by Roumanians and Slavs lie in tempting proximity to the neighbour States the Dual Monarchy. That part of Austria-Hungary which borders upon Russia proper is inhabited bj; 4,000,000 R/usso-Ruthonians, that bordering upon Russian Poland is inhabited by 5,000,000 Poles, that bordering upon Roumania is inhabited by 3,500,000 Roumanians, that bordering upon Servia is inhabited by 5,500,000 Servians, tho Serbo-Croats. The history of European Turkey may repeat iteelf."

THE CLAIMS OP NATIONALISM. "Politicus" continues: "Tho spirit of nationalism is abroad. It is no longer possible to rulo harshly over men of another race. The brilliant victories of the Balkan Slavs have filled tho 25,000,000 Slavs and the 3,500,000 Roumanians who dwell in Austria-Hungary with hope, courage, enthusiasm, and confidence. In Austria-Hun-gary, as in old Turkey, the claims of nationalism, the claims of the peoples to belong to themselves and to govern themselves in their own way, following their ancient history and traditions, have come into collision with the parchment claims of racial supremacy which are advanced by their conquerors, mainly on historic grounds. The right to supremacy has sprung from tho ancient right of nations to subdue and enslave weaker nations. Tnat right is being questioned everywhere. As AustriaHungary is an important and an indispensable part of the balance of power in Europe, it is obvious that a serious alteration in its status would destroy tho delicate mechanism of the European equilibrium. It is, therefore, dear that the problem of AustriaHungary is one which is of very great importance, not only to the Dual Monarchy and ita neighbour?, but to the whole world."

MAGYARISED HUNGARY. - Next tho writer gives some startling instances of the manner in which the subject nations aro treated, and also of the way in which the two Monarchies differ from one another. The Magyars monopolise the administrative offices of Parliament; of tho 392 members of the Hungarian Parliament, only 21 are non-Magyars, although tho nonMagyars form tho majority of the Hungarian population. Although 2,000,000 Germans live in Hungary, and although many of these inhabit the large towns and are well-to-do, and anxious to go to German theatres, there are bo German theatres in Hungary, beeauso none' aro tolerated. Those which existed formerly ihad to be closed. In their anxiety to Magyarise Hungary, purely German towns have been given Magyar names. Hermannstadt has been turned into Nagy Szeben, Kronetadt into Braseo, Vienna into Bees. The Hungarian postal authorities return unopened letters from .Austria address;ed to Hermannstadt or Kronstadt, and the Austrian postal authorities return unopened letters from Hungary addressed to Bees as "unknown."

" Politious" states that the men belonging to tho subject nationalities havo eerious reason to be dissatisfied with their position, and the Balkan War has filled them with a new hope: "A dangerous spirit is arising in the Dual Monarchy largely in consequence of the Balkan War, and tho danger of widespread and intense popular dissatisfaction is all tho greater as tho two ruling, races strongly dislike one another."

TWO NATIONS AT STRIFE. On this point he writes: "Austria and Hungary are two nations whitfh are constantly in strife.. They are painfully held together by a long and ever-lengthening chain of compromises and concessions, and especially by concessions on' the part of Austria. Tho only connecting link between the two halves of the Dual Monarchy is tho venerable Emperor, who, at tho same time, is Emperbr of Austria and King of Hungary. His tact, his infinite patience, and his determination to preserve internal peaco at any cost, have repeatedly prevented a dangerous oonfliot between tho two States, which nominally are one. The Emperor is 83 years old. Hie successor may not bo ablo to fill his place ade-' qiiately. Tho connecting between Austria and Hungary is a very precarious one. The outlook for the future of the Dual Monarchy 6eems unoortain. By a mistaken policy Austria-Hungary has created the Panslavonic movement which threatens her existence, tyut she can easily lay tho spectre by wise and timely action. Religion is a more powerful bond of union than race. Tho 25,000,000 Slavs of Austria-Hungary and t'ho Slavs of Russia, Bulgaria, and Servia do not belong to the same .Church. While the Slavs in Russia, Bulgaria, and Servia are members of tho Orthodox Church, practically all tho Slavs in Austria-Hungary are Roman Catholics. Austria-Hungary has it in her power to divide the Slavs of Europe into an Orthodox and a Roman Catholic branch, and to place herself at the head of the Roman Catholic Slavs as the greatest Roman Catholic Stav Power, but she can do ® i only if she treats her _ Slavs just and fairly, bo, that they see in AustriaHungary, not their taskmatser, but their ■Fatherland. THE SOLUTION. "Tho position of Austria-Hungary is a. dangerous one. The only way to strengthen i the Dual Monarchy and to ensure its permanence lies in tho introduction of selfgovernment among the nationalities and in the federation of a number of self-govern-ing States formed, not on tho basis of racial oppression, but of racial equality." But "Ploiiticus " is doubtful whether the rulers are far-sighted enough to initiate in timo n bold modern and democratic policy of reconstruction. Many leading Austrians and Hungarians, he says, live in the past. "Tho problem of Austria-Hungary may soon come up for solution. Tho Dual Monarchy also may bo tried in tho fiery furnaco of war. By' her recent Balkan policy Austria-Hun-gary has strenuously worked for th'e advantago of Russia and for her own undoing. She has strengthened Pan-Slavism very greatly, she has disastrously weakened the oohesion of tho Dual Monarchy, end has crippled her diplomacy and her army. A successful invasion of the country would lead not only to Austria's defeat, but to tho downfall and to tho dissolution of tlhat artificial political creation. AustriaHungary can obviously hopo to hold her own against Russia only if her own Slavs and tho Slavs in the Balkan Peninsula see in Austria. Hungary not a stealthy enemy and an oppressor, but a friend, a benefactor, and a protector. Therefore, she should abandon her policy of ill-treating her Slavonic citizens. Sho should endeavour to attach them to tho State by giving t'hem freedom and selfgovernment. She should abandon her callous policy of creating strife among the Balkan nations, and should endeavour to attach to herself tho Roman Catliolio Slavs within and without her borders by bonds of sympatic and affection. Only that way lies salvation."