Cooling Of Austria-Hungary.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 18, 1912:
    It would be interesting to know whence sprang the stories that ran through all the papers of Europe a few weeks ago about, the, offensive manner in which the Servian commanders had treated the Austro-Hungarian Consuls at Prisrend and elsewhere. It was made to appear that the Serbs were bent on picking a quarrel with their powerful neighbor, and the latter was reported to have redoubled her energetic preparations for moving an overwhelming force to the frontier. Of the vigor and activity of these preparations there is no question, as the Austro-Hungarian Government has already expended on them sums estimated at many millions. Now the offensive conduct of Servia has carefully been inquired into, and is officially stated to amount to nothing. An equally peaceful and reassuring color is given to the one-time threatening claim of Servia to Durazzo and its adjacent territory, which is to be left, apparently, to the settlement of the Powers. Some light is thrown on this marked change in the situation by the statement of the Bulgarian leader in the conference at London that Austria's military activity is really inspired by fear of internal disturbance. If so, it has been shrewdly managed. The Slavs in Austria have long been deeply discontented, and their racial sentiment has been stirred by the wonderful success of their kinsmen in the Balkans. By arousing the pride of the whole nation in the prominent part played by it in recent troublous events, the Austrian Government has got its money and been able to strengthen and partly mobilise its forces. To what uses it may actually put the new strength is within its own discretion. The mere possession of it discourages active discontent. The Government in consequence can afford to assume a cooler-temper, and is doing so. It was a somewhat risky game while it was being played, for there was danger that Russia would be tempted to come to the support of the Serbs, against whom the policy of Austria was apparently aimed and thus a general conflict be brought about. Possibly an understanding was reached between the two Powers in advance. That would not at all be inconsistent with the ways of European diplomacy.