Budapest Scoffs At Alarms.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 23, 1912:
Correspondent Says Servia Cannot Fight Europe, and Czar Wants Peace.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Saturday, Nov. 23.— Dr. E. J. Dillon, The Daily Telegraph's Budapest correspondent, sends this dispatch:
    "Pessimism is rampant in journalistic circles in Vienna, based on wild rumors of the mobilization of Austria or Russia, of the murder of an Austro-Hungarian Consul by the Serbs, and other imaginary occurrences. In Government circles, on the contrary, the situation is regarded as satisfactory and with perfect reason, for war is inconceivable without belligerents, and Servia alone cannot wage a campaign against Europe, which has resolved to disallow her exorbitant demands.
    "Among themselves the great powers are agreed respecting vital questions and will not risk a tremendous conflict for secondary matters. Consequently there is really nothing to fear on that score.
    "A source of the apprehensions, which are none the less felt by the initiated, is the assumption that the Russian Government is lamentably weak and that Pan-Slavism in St. Petersburg and Moscow is undoubtedly strong, so strong that the hand of the Czar may any moment be forced and a bellicose line of action struck up.
    "I am well enough acquainted with the currents of Prussian politics to be able to affirm that such a consummation is practically eliminated. Russia has but one policy, that of the Czar, which is pacific. All the real elements of danger are, therefore, dispelled.
    "The rumors of forthcoming diplomatic action of the Triple Alliance to be reinforced by a military demonstration are also unfounded. The powers and the Triple Alliance cannot advantageously take action with a view to safeguarding their interests against the Balkan coalition because the nature of the damage, which threatens them, is still unknown and because any injury the Allies may inflict is not irreparable.
    "Moreover, in some cases the interests of two powers, belonging to the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, respectively, are more closely identified than those of the two members of the same group.
    "Turkey's determination to continue hostilities caused little surprise here when the terms, demanded by the Allies, became Known. The conviction prevails in Constantinople that the Bulgarian Army has been cut up by the sanguinary combats and is now suffering from cholera, typhus, and even hunger.
    "Furthermore, the Porte is aware that Europe will look favorably on the retention by the Sultan of the territory inclosed by a line drawn from Midia on the Black Sea to the mouth of the River Maritza in the Gulf of Enos in the Aegean Sea.
    "Even if Bulgaria should now force the Tchatalja lines and deprive Constantinople of its land defenses on the European side, it by no means follows that she would be allowed to remain in possession of the conquered territory.
    "In like manner the temporary possession of Dibra and Durazzo by Servia, even if ratified by a treaty of peace, will not give her the slenderest chance of annexing them. That point is settled and done with, and only a war which no great power has an interest to wage can cause it to be opened.
    "These are the cardinal facts of the situation, a dispassionate survey of which attunes the mind to optimism."