Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 35. (1982)
WILSON, Keith: Isolating the Isolator. Cartwright, Grey and the seduction of Austria-Hungary 1908–1912
Isolating the Isolator 189 No. 3: Sir Fairfax L. Cartwright to Sir Edward Grey, Vienna, 14 April 1909. PRO FO 371/599/14552. I have the honour to report that Eastertide this year has been seized as a suitable occasion by the Austro-Hungarian press for reviewing the present international position of the Monarchy after the crisis of the last few months. Those newspapers which get their inspiration chiefly from German sources exert themselves mainly in drawing attention to the value of the alliance with Germany, and they all assert that had Austria-Hungary of Germany showed any infidelity to this international pact war with Servia would have probably ensued, and it would very likely have been followed up by a conflict with other powers. All these misfortunes have been spared to Austria- Hungary because Germany stood firm by her ally; and the lesson to be leamt by other nations from this is, that if the two empires will only stand together they can dominate the European continent. Other newspapers of a less distinctly German colour also have words of praise for the services recently rendered by Germany to Austria-Hungary, but they pass them over lightly and prefer to concentrate the attention of their readers on another lesson to be leamt from the late crisis, namely, that Austria-Hungary has issued from the struggle morally and politically strengthened and that after a long period of effacement she now stands out as a real independent power in Europe, a power which will in future have a foreign policy of its own and which the cabinets of Europe will have to consult in international questions. Although the press reflects what may be taken as a certain general satisfaction, especially among the upper classes, that Austria-Hungary has been playing of late a more important role in European affairs than she has done for many years past, it is impossible to close one’s eyes to the genuine and spontaneous delight of the masses of the people that war with Servia was averted at the last moment, and I may cite as a proof of this the great peace ovation which is being organized for next Sunday at the palace of Schönbrunn by the various ‘Volksvereine’ in Vienna in honour of the Emperor, whose influence it is so well known has throughout the crisis been thrown on the side of the maintenance of peace. It would be tedious if I were to give you extracts from the many articles which have this Eastertide appeared in the Austro-Hungarian press on the above matters but I will venture to make certain observations as to the feelings which exist in influential circles here with regard to the future of this country and the policy she should henceforth pursue. Persons who are well acquainted with Baron von Aehrenthal all seem to agree that the governing idea of his policy is to emancipate the Dual Empire from dependence upon Germany; that does not mean that he wants to have Germany as an enemy, but that he wishes to bring things to pass in such a way that Austria-Hungary will always be able to count upon the support of Germany in case of dire necessity, but that the Dual Monarchy will not be involved in danger should Germany’s aggressive policy bring her into collision with other powers. Baron von Aehrenthal is a man who feels oppressed by the weight of Germany on the flanks of Austria-Hungary. I think he still hopes to come to a better understanding with Russia, and he will certainly do everything he can to maintain good relations with England and France. Probably he would prefer to go to St Petersburg by way of Paris and London rather than by way of Berlin. As evidence of this I may cite a curious fact, namely, that the Vienna ‘Fremdenblatt’, the recognized organ of the Foreign Office here, scarcely alluded to or commented upon Prince Biilow’s last speech in the Reichstag in which the chancellor laid such stress on the services Germany had rendered Austria-Hungary by her fidelity to the alliance, and in the Easter number of that newspaper more attention was called to the resurrection of Austria-Hungary after a long apathy in international politics than to the value of the alliance with the neighbouring empire. Again, when the Western Powers and Russia showed a desire to offer their mediation for the peaceful settlement of the Servian crisis, and Baron von Aehrenthal seemed disposed to ac
