Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 35. (1982)

WILSON, Keith: Isolating the Isolator. Cartwright, Grey and the seduction of Austria-Hungary 1908–1912

Isolating the Isolator

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from the Vicomte de Gontaut-Biron’s work, ‘Mon Ambassade en Allemagne, 1872-1873’, which seem to me to be of some interest at the present moment, as showing the efforts which were made at that time by Germany to secure a hold of Austria-Hungary, whose natural instincts even then only led her to grasp with reluctance the hand which Germany extended towards her. In Chapter 5 of the above-mentioned work we find the following passages:

‘ü n’était pas, non plus, aussi prouvé que le prétendait l’organe officieux du Gouvernement Allemand, que l’Autriche et la Russie eussent besoin de 1’Allemagne pour se rapprocher l’une de l’autre ... A peine l’entrevue était-elle annoncée, qu’une polémique d’une certaine aigreur s’entama entre les journaux officieux d’Allemagne et d’Autriche sur ses origines et mérne sur le rőle qu’avait joué le Comte Andrássy. II semble en résulter que la premiére idée était venue de 1’Allemagne, et que des pourparlers auraient eu lieu ä Nassau lors de l’inauguration de la statue élevée ä Stein. A Vienne, on aurait hésité, on aurait hésité également ä Saint-Pétersbourg, dans la crainte de dormer ä l’entrevue une apparence de démonstration contre la France . .. Mais quelle explication donner ä la présence de la Russie, á laquelle on n’avait pás songé tout d’abord? Suivant les uns, la premiére pensée de mettre la Russie en tiers dans l’entrevue vénáit du Comte Andrássy. L’occasion lui sembla opportune de rapprocher l’Autriche de la Russie, et, aussitöt aprés la résolution de l’Empereur Fran- fois-Joseph de se rendre ä Berlin, il aurait expédié á Saint-Pétersbourg l’Archiduc Guillaume pour engager l’Empereur Alexandre ä y venir également, ce que celui-ci aurait accepté’.

Austria-Hungary, having once taken the road to Berlin, has continued to follow it, partly from force of habit, and perhaps still more so from the idea entertained ever since Count Andrássy’s death by his weak successors at the Ballplatz, that if they showed any independence, disagreeable to Berlin, they would soon be driven from office. Force of habit, in the long run, becomes a power, and people are too ready to accept it without question; thus, ever since the creation of the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria, successive British cabinets have looked upon His Majesty’s embassy at Vienna as a post of minor importance where little could be achieved, and they have accepted, without question, as an inevitable necessity the effaced position of Austria-Hungary in European politics.

Is there, however, any real reason for doing so? Is Austria-Hungary’s position in Europe so peculiar that she must necessarily lean upon Germany for support and be unable to pursue a foreign policy of her own, entering only upon alliances with other powers on an equal footing? It is astounding to see an Empire composed of nearly 50 million inhabitants exerting so little influence on the destinies of Central Europe. This state of things is not natural but artificial, and it only requires to make Austrian public opinion understand the possibilities which lie open before the Dual Monarchy to put an end to the present situation. The fear that Russia would freeze out Austria’s ambitions and influence in the Balkans has been one of the chief causes why Austria has become so subservient to Germany. The power of Russia, however, has been so materially altered by the Japanese War that the Russian bugbear has in great part disappeared for Austrians. As Russian ambitions have been curbed, both in Asia and in the Near East, it seems inevitable and reasonable that Russia and Austria should now come to terms and adjust their differences and aspirations in the Balkans. Great Britain seems at present the Power indicated through whom this rapprochement can be brought about, and it would be apathy on our part if we allowed the tradition to continue to exist that this can only be accomplished through Berlin. A few years ago it seemed impossible that Great Britain and Russia should settle their differences in Asia amicably and without a war; this, however, has now been accomplished, and what has been achieved in this direction may surely also be accomplished directly between Austria and Russia if the attempt be only made. One of the impediments in the way of an understanding between the Czar and the Austro- Hungarian government is the belief that the preponderance of German influence at Constantinople is so strongly es-