A telegram not specially striking -in itself but obviously sing an intrinsic importance. appeared Jast week referring to the. relations between Austria. and Turkey. It pointed out that. pourparlers had taken place haying for their object the resumption of relations between the two countries, and that various influential statesmen had been appointed on cither side. So much has happened since the Balkans were the primary danger spot of the world that people have practically forgotten that there was a long standing cause of dispute between the two countries which only now, following upon all the readjustments resulting from the European war, promises to be settled. Whatever else there may have been in dispute between the two countries, the action of Austria-Hungary in seizing Bosnia and Herzegovina must have embittered relations many years ago—at the time when the Turk was suzerain over the greater part of the Balkan: The Austrian ambitions of thi days inevitably led her to cast covetous eyes on such and other Balkan States, and naturally the rage of a weakened Turkey, unable to help herself, must have been intense when the seizures occurred. Behind Austria was Germany with her Drang nach Osten, and it was on that account that Turkey found herself in an utterly false position all through the war. She was allied with countries whose ambitions im respect of her territory were anything but disinterested. Hence there was no occasion for surprise if relations were decidedly strained following the armistice. As matters stand to-day the elements of enmity between Austria and Turkey seem largoly to have been disposed of and the coming negotiations should not especially difficult.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.