The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

lasting success and a portion of military glory to go to his Serbian and Greek neighbours? Had he hesitated, his hesitation would have merited only contempt in the eyes of his Imperial idol in Berlin, who dared everything. If he had moral scruples, he would be laughed at by the highly extolled circles of Berlin and Vienna who were just preparing the violation of peaceful, innocent Belgium, and the plunging of Europe into the most bloody and criminal of wars. Had he entertained fears and doubts as to the success of his enterprise, there was the support of the Government of Vienna and Budapest to ensure him against failure, promising him all kinds of help and protection. Indeed on the eve of the Second Balkan War, in the very critical hour when Russian diplomacy was straining every nerve and using the personal authority of the Tsar of Russia in the interest of peace and maintenance of the Balkan Alliance, the Hungarian premier, Count Tisza, who beside the Kaiser is the most baleful statesman in Europe, made his speech in the Parliament of Budapest, whereby he directly instigated the fratricidal war between the Balkan nations.

On the 19th of June, 19138, Count Tisza said—

“Our interests demand the completest independence of the Balkan States. This is the Alpha and Omega of the policy we shall pursue in regard to the solution of Balkan problems. Now when

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