Count Aehrenthal, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, who succeeded Count Goluchowski
in 1906, died last Satur- day in his fifty-eighth year. Little more than three years ago the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina made him the idol of his countrymen, but his popularity was short-lived, owing partly to his unyielding personality and still more to his refusal to sacrifice the friendship of Italy to the demands of the aggressive Young Austrian party. Violently assailed in the Press, he had already lost much of his prestige when he was struck down by mortal illness. The career which has thus prematurely closed in tragedy is summarized in a masterly article by the Vienna corre- spondent of the Times in Monday's issue. Entering the diplomatic service in 1877, he subsequently served as chef du Cabinet under Count K6.1noky, his master and model, won the confidence of the King of Roumania when Minister at Bucarest, and as Ambassador in St. Petersburg was a persona grata with the old regime. But he had no sympathies with Russian Liberalism, opposed the Miirzsteg programme as impairing the old Russo-Austrian predominance in Macedonia, and on succeeding to Count G-oluchowski strove consistently to prevent the conclusion of the Anglo-Russian entente.
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