Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 35. (1982)
WILSON, Keith: Isolating the Isolator. Cartwright, Grey and the seduction of Austria-Hungary 1908–1912
190 Keith Wilson cept the same, Germany grew jealous and stepped in between these powers and Austria-Hungary with a view to obtain by threats from Russia her consent to the abrogation of article 25 of the Treaty of Berlin and so to render Austria-Hungary a service without her having perhaps asked for it. I cannot say for certain whether Germany forced her services upon Austria-Hungary or not, or whether Austria-Hungary asked for them; but in talking to me about the abrogation of this article, Baron von Aehrenthal by his manner seemed to imply that he was not responsible for the action of Germany at St Petersburg and elsewhere, and that Austria-Hungary would have been quite willing to apply directly to the powers about this matter. At that time the editor of the ‘Fremdenblatt’ observed to me, in alluding to Germany’s methods and politics, ‘en voulant vous faire un compliment les Allemands réussissent généralement ä vous froisser’. It is also noteworthy that during the whole of the recent crisis the semi-inspired press of this country, which at one moment was so violent against England never spoke of Russia except in moderate and correct terms, and never indulged in a bitter campaign against M. Isvolsky. It looked as if Baron von Aehrenthal desired to leave the door open for a reconciliation with that country as soon as the crisis should have passed away. Every well-informed person I have spoken to here recognises that if Austria-Hungary desires to peacefully exercise her legitimate influence in the Balkan Peninsula, she can only do so by first coming to an understanding with Russia on this matter, and there are many reasons to show that Baron von Aehrenthal would rather come to such an agreement by direct negotiations with St Petersburg than by negotiations conducted through the intermediary of Berlin. Germany, however, does not take the same view with regard to this matter, and the newspapers here which draw their inspiration from Berlin openly announce that Germany must now carry on a vigorous campaign at St Petersburg to prevent Russia from effectively reviving the so-called ‘Reval policy’; should she prove successful in doing this, she will also indirectly benefit Austria-Hungary by bringing about improved relations between her and Russia. Therefore, again, Austria-Hungary will have benefited from the work, which, in the main, will have been done by Germany and once more Austria-Hungary is to be made to feel how useful Germany can be to her. By the term ‘Reval policy’, the press here means the policy lately pursued by France and Great Britain which seeks to apply the Anglo-Russian agreement to the sphere of European instead of to that of purely Asiatic politics. That policy, it asserts, has nearly brought about a European war, and it will do so if further pursued. What Baron von Aehrenthal’s future policy will be can for the moment only be a matter of speculation; Austria-Hungary has just passed through a very long and violent crisis: trade has been disturbed, public money has been largely spent, the army has been in great part put on a war footing, people begin to realise the dangers which have been recently incurred, and although they may feel flattered that the Dual Monarchy should have played so important a part in European affairs, this country undoubtedly wants a rest. It seems likely, therefore, that Baron von Aehrenthal will not seek for any further adventures for some time to come, and his friends say that he will now try to consolidate the empire and endeavour to make it feel confidence in itself. The crisis has done one thing for Austria-Hungary: it has pulled the army together, and I am told that the mobilisation worked well and that the machinery of the army was essentially sound. It is through the army and through the creation of perhaps a more important fleet that Baron von Aehrenthal hopes, with the Archduke Franz Ferdinand [at] his back, to maintain the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the front rank of the European powers; he believes that if the prestige of the empire can only be raised it will contribute a great deal to pacify the racial hatred and strifes which are one of the curses of the Dual Monarchy. According to him, if people can only be made to feel that they form part of a mighty organisation under a capable leadership, they will cease to waste their energies in what are, after all, only local squabbles. A strong Austria-Hungary means an independent Austria-Hungary; a weak one means an empire dependent for guidance upon Germany. That Austria-Hungary should come to
