Austrian Threats Keep Europe Upset.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 30, 1913:
No Move Yet Against Montenegro, but Fear Grows That It Is Near.
THE BOURSES AGITATED
General Fall in Prices Yesterday — Austria's Alpine Army Moved to the Southern Frontier.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Wednesday, April 30.— A sensation was created in the European capitals yesterday by the report that Austria-Hungary had officially announced her intention of taking immediate independent action against Montenegro.
    Inquiries at the British Foreign Office showed that nothing was known there of any decision to eject Montenegro from Scutari by force, though at the last two meetings of the Ambassadors' Conference here Emperor Francis Joseph's representative intimated that his country could not wait indefinitely.
    It is suggested that the bellicose statements issued by the Vienna press were designed to bring pressure on the powers of the Triple Entente and to induce them to accept the Austrian proposals at the Ambassadors' Conference in London to-morrow.
    Heavy selling of stocks in London on Continental account followed the report of the decision of Austria to take the Scutari matter into her own hands. Shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon Paris unloaded Rio Tintos, and later Berlin sold Canadian Pacifies so heavily that the price fell 5 1/2 points.
    There were heavy declines in Vienna, Paris, and Berlin. In London the storm subsided before the end of the session, and there was some recovery.

Austria Against Compromise.
    An Interesting explanation of the position taken by Austria is given by The Daily News. It says that the Ambassadors' Conference in London at last week's meeting discussed a reasonable and moderate offer by Montenegro to accept territorial compensation for leaving Scutari. In spite of this offer, Austria still pressed for immediate military action, and she so far succeeded that she obtained the consent of the powers to the aggressive and peremptory writ of eviction that was presented to Montenegro on Monday.
    Then came the question of following up that writ of eviction with action. This was discussed by the powers' Ambassadors for three and a half hours on Monday afternoon. Finally the Ambassadors came to the decision to enter into negotiations with Montenegro on the basis of territorial compensation.
    The Austrian Ambassador thereupon announced that he could not consent to that decision without obtaining fresh authority from his Government.
    Thus Austria stood definitely aloof from the decision of the Ambassadors' Conference on Monday. The upshot was that all through yesterday in Vienna there were consultations between the military and political chiefs, and in various forms the Austrian Government let the world know that it contemplated separate independent action.
    "All that seemed to remain," says The Daily News, "was that this action should take place, but this, fortunately, has been postponed, at least until after Thursday.
    "In the meanwhile a great struggle was going on all through yesterday for the support of Italy. That country is torn between two rival affections, one official and the other human. The Montenegrins were approaching Italy on the one side and the Austrians approaching her on the other, and it still remains to be seen which influence won the day.
    "Russia stands restlessly aloof, giving little encouragement to Montenegro, but steadily refusing to join in any coercion. France, Germany, and Great Britain are all steadily working for peace on lines of compromise."

Austrian Precipitancy Denied.
    That the European Bourses should have taken so alarmist a view of the semi-official communique in the Vienna press was merely an indication of nervous tension. As The Times points out, the communique makes the political outlook a shade darker than before, but in no way indicates a fresh development in Austrian policy.
    Count Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, assured several visitors yesterday that no step would be taken in regard to Montenegro before Thursday, and that probably the result of the next meeting of the Ambassadors' conference in London would be awaited before a final decision was taken.
    In Berlin the Imperial Secretary for Foreign Affairs assured the Budget Committee of the Reichstag that feeling both in Austria and Germany was thoroughly pacific, and the best authorities in the German capital were agreed that Austria was not likely to precipitate an issue unless she had reason to believe that other powers were seeking to leave her in the lurch. There is no present indication of any such intention.
    Paris dispatches state that the Russian Ambassadors have made identical declarations at all the capitals to the effect that, as Russia affixed her signature to the note summoning King Nicholas to abandon Scutari, she would continue to insist that Montenegro should not retain possession of the town.
    A St. Petersburg dispatch to The Times reiterates the statement that Russia is not going to part company with the powers, and that she is convinced that Montenegro will bow to the will of Europe as soon as she is satisfied that the powers are determined to enforce their will. St. Petersburg, however, believes that arguments such as a more stringent blockade can be found to wear down Montenegrin resistance without recourse to the extreme measure of war.
    King Nicholas unfortunately shows no sign of giving way, for he has lightly informed the powers that he will not give a final answer to their demand for the evacuation of Scutari till after the Greek Easter holidays. It remains to be seen how long Austria's patience will last.

Special Cable to The New York Times.
    VIENNA, April 29.— Austrian action against Montenegro will, it is expected, begin early next week unless King Nicholas yields to pressure.
    Italian co-operation with Austria is expected.
    It is reported that the commanding officer of the Dalmatian frontier town of Cattaro has warned the inhabitants to leave the town within forty-eight hours owing to the danger of an attack from the Montenegrin mountain fort of Lovcen, winch dominates Cattaro.

Special Cable to The New York Times.
    GENEVA, April 29.— In the last two days all the Austrian Alpine regiments stationed on the Swiss and Italian frontiers, numbering several thousand men, have left there for the frontiers of Montenegro and the Sanjak of Novi-Bazar.
    Fresh troops are arriving in the Tyrol to replace the Alpine army in the frontier forts.