The conversations of Count Kalnoky with the Delegations in explanation
of the speech are but indifferently reported; but the drift of all that gets into print is always the same. The Austrian Government intends to protect the independence of the Balkan States, and is by no means so pessimist about their immediate future as mere onlookers are. Roumania, it is remarked, for instance, both by the Count and his master, is in better order than is supposed, and will always strive to preserve its independence, a remark which has been eagerly endorsed at Bucharest, where King Charles finds independence
his strongest card with the people. Count Kalnoky admits bad symptoms in Servia, where this week a grand festival has been held in honour of the " Servian Empire" which perished on the field of Kossovo five hundred years ago, but even there he expects the desire for independence to make all things go right. He is, in short, rather optimist, though prepared, should it become necessary, to adopt an active policy. This resolve, which is supposed to shine through the sentences quoted above from the Emperor's speech, is welcomed by the Hungarians, who have been accusing the Chancellor of a sneaking kindness for Russia, and a tendency to give way too easily to Slav pretensions. The Russian Court professes to be quite unmoved by the Emperor's declarations, and has explained that the Czar's recent toast did not spring from any hostility to the Obrenovitch dynasty, but from a desire to elevate the position of Prince Nicholas by recognising his unswerving friendship to the Russian State.
