The New Europe/Volume 3/An American View of Austria

An American View of Austria

The Berne correspondent of the Journal de Genève recently interviewed a distinguished American on his way from Vienna to the United States and supplied his paper with a column from which we take the following paragraph describing the state of affairs in Austria:—“While the food problem is causing the Government serious anxiety, there is no immediate danger in this connection, for supplies will last to the beginning of winter. Discontent with the Government is on the decrease. The Emperor is very popular and has the ear of the masses. The war with Italy is more popular than ever, both with the masses and the Army. Austria-Hungary is ready for une paix blanche, provided that the Karageorgevitch dynasty is replaced by another in Serbia. A solution on these lines is confidently hoped for in Vienna. The recent British successes in France have not had a depressing effect, rather the reverse, as making Austria-Hungary more independent of Germany. Hindenburg is avoiding offending the Austro-Hungarian staff as much as possible. Complete confidence is felt in Bulgaria, but Turkey’s attitude is the cause of anxiety. Russia is no longer regarded as a serious adversary.”