• The North German Gazette,in an article clearly official, alludes
to a Treaty between Russia and Austria signed in 1877, before the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War, under which Austria was permitted to occupy and govern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Congress of Berlin only ratified that Treaty, Prince Bhp mar& supporting the arrangement at Russian request. No such Treaty has been officially mentioned before, and it seems clear that possession of the two Provinces was the price paid to Austria to induce her not to interfere with the Russian advance. There is the weak place in any calcula- tion in which the Hapsburgs are concerned. You never know what they will do if they are offered Provinces. They are as diffi- milt to rely on as Irish peasants, when the land hunger is upon them. Could not the North German Gazette carry its indiscre- tions a little farther, and tell us the real reason why Alexander after crossing the Balkans, did not march on Constantinople ? Was his army exhausted, or was he warned from Vienna that Bosnia would not be held a sufficient "compensation" for the grand conquest ?
Previous page
