16 MARCH 1907, Page 1

In the issue of Thursday the Vienna correspondent of the

Times summarises the noticeable growth of separatist tenden- cies in Austria and Hungary. .Dr. Biirnreither, the former leader of the Constitutional German Party in the Austrian Chamber, and hitherto one of the strongest defenders of economic unity, made on Tuesday at Prague a speech that was virtually a plea for separation. He alluded to the political consequences of separation, and confessed that while Hungary would draw nearer to the Balkan States, Austria would be driven into the arms of Germany. Resolutions adopted by all the Austrian Provincial Diets and the language of the entire Austrian Press show that Austria is bent upon securing her own interests without any particular considera- tion for Hungary. If the cry is not "Against Hungary " it m at all events "For Austria!" M. Francis Kossuth, the Hungarian Minister of Commerce, has been urging all Hungarians to stand compactly behind their Government as Austrians stand behind theirs. In Austria one group of politicians support the ideal of a "Greater Austria," in which Hungary and Croatia would be reincorporated as parts of a federated Empire. It is hard to think, however, that this could be accomplished without violence.