The new Army and Navy Estimates and the speech of
the Minister for Foreign Affairs have naturally excited much criticism throughout Austria-Hungary. On. one side Count Goluchowski is accused of ,abetting the dismemberment of the Turkish Empire, and on the other of playing Russia's game in the Balkans till that astute neighbour has her hands free to take up the task herself. He has, in consequence, had, to do a good deal of explaining during the week. Austria, he says, has no ambitions in South-Eastern Europe save peace. Her object is to make foreign intervention superfluous in the Balkans, and to secure this result by preventing the outbreak of disturbances. With Russia she has a perfectly good understanding, and she is utterly averse to any policy of adventure. The extra taxation had no reference to the foreign situation, which was for the moment free from all disquietude; but such a time was the proper season to arm, and not when danger was at the door. His hearers seem to have been scarcely convinced by these arguments, feeling that such foresight is unnatural in a country where new taxation is not easily imposed, unless there is something more than a distant possibility of danger to dictate it.
