Austria-Hungary Annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina

This series has eight easy 5-minute installments. This first installment: Article XXV of the Treaty of Berlin.

Introduction
Among the striking consequences of the Turkish Revolution was its precipitance of changes long contemplated by neighboring states. Bulgaria, which later, in 1912, was brought into impressive prominence as the chief of the Balkan States, had her formal birth as an independent power in 1908. The Berlin Conference of 1878 had detached Bulgaria from Turkey and made her a semi-independent province. Now her ruler, Prince Ferdinand, took advantage of Turkey’s internal troubles, and declared himself and his country wholly free. He assumed the title of Czar or Emperor of the Bulgarians.

Immediately following on this vigorous move, the Austrian Empire took a similar step by proclaiming her annexation of the Turkish provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This seizure she at once made good by force. The two provinces had been under Austrian administration since the Berlin Conference; but this formal annexation of them was a great blow both to Turkish pride and to the hopes of the Slavic natives of the provinces, who had dreamed of independence. For a moment Austria’s open defiance of her agreement with the other Powers of Europe seemed to threaten a universal war. But neither Russia, the friend of Slavic independence, nor England, the protector of Turkey, was willing to take such extreme action, so Austria’s bold step won her the desired prize.

Germany was Austria’s ally in the matter, and we offer here the pro Austrian outlook as given by a noted German scholar, Dr. Reich. This is followed by an account from the well-known English statesman, traveler, and authority upon Eastern questions, Major Colquhoun. It takes England’s self-consolatory attitude in its prediction of disasters ultimately to ensue.

The selections are from contemporary accounts:

• Crisis in the Near East by Emil Reich.
• The Balkan Problem by Major Archibald Colquhoun published.

For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

There’s 5.5 installments by Emil Reich and 2.5 installments by Major Archibald Colquhoun.

We begin with Emil Reich (1854-1910). He was a Hungarian historian who lived at various times throughout the western world.

Time: 1908
Place: Bosnia-Herzegovina

The month of October, 1908, inaugurated a new phase in the Balkan problem. By a series of events which were from the outset clothed in what is technically called a fait accompli, the entire aspect of the various local, international, and semi-international relations of the states and nations in the Southeastern Peninsula has assumed a new shape and novel potentialities. For days nothing short of a very serious conflict of interests was expected to follow, and it can hardly be denied that the waves of deeply agitated political and religious passions surged over parts of Europe with no ordinary vehemence. The interests involved are, in more than one case, of a far-reaching character, and, directly or indirectly, the whole of Europe pays close attention to the issue of a crisis that only a few years ago no one would have believed to be amenable to a solution other than that of war.

Fortunately for the higher interests of all concerned, the arbitrament of war has not been, nor will it be, resorted to. We are therefore in a position to take a more dispassionate and a calmer view of the events of October, 1908. In fact, so rapidly have events and persons moved during the last weeks, that it is, I take it, quite possible to find one’s bearings and to fix the perspective of the latest “crisis in the Near East” with tolerable certainty. In order to do so, I considered it, of course, my principal duty to secure the most authentic and authoritative information at the very quarters where the events and faits accomplish had originated. This valuable information had granted me at first hand and in a liberal manner. As in all great political moves and measures, there was, no doubt, in the latest Balkan events more than one consideration, motive, or preparatory action which has never found its way into the official documents which were put at my disposal. It may, nevertheless, be safely stated that both the principles and the essential facts can very well be gathered from, and properly valued on, the basis of the information obtained. This, I hope, will contribute to a clearing of the atmosphere, and to the conviction that in this latest Balkan crisis, as in most other crises of life, Necessity has played a greater part than has Malice.

The latest Balkan crisis implies events in several Balkan States, and it will be conducive to greater clearness as well as to greater justice if we treat of each of these states separately. I will accordingly first treat of the recent measures of Austria Hungary; then of those of Bulgaria; and finally of the aspirations of the Serbians. Inasmuch as the interests of Turkey proper must necessarily be taken into consideration in the discussion of each of the preceding points, it is unnecessary to treat of Turkey separately. First, then, as to Austria Hungary.

In 1866 the Austro-Hungarian Empire lost her last possessions in Italy, the province of Venice. It was but natural that the Austro-Hungarian Government was constantly looking out for compensation for the great territorial losses of 1859 and 1866. It is to the present day not yet clear in what quarters arose the idea of offering Austria-Hungary compensation in the Balkans. Some say it originated in Russia; others maintain it was a suggestion of Bismarck. It is not unlikely that something to that effect was planned at the Ballplatz of Vienna, too. “Halb zog sie ihn, halb fiel er hin,” as Goethe says. At any rate, when at the Congress of Berlin, in 1878, the proposal was brought before the Powers, it met with great favor, England especially manifesting great zeal in the recommendation of an “occupation” of two Turkish provinces by Austria-Hungary. It was in reality one of those moves on the chessboard of Europe which enables all the partners concerned to indulge in the satisfaction of having made a “good ” move. Bismarck was glad to think that Austria-Hungary was henceforth obliged, in her own interest, to deviate considerably from the lines of Russian policy in the Balkans. Russia, on the other hand, was not dissatisfied to see Austria-Hungary settle down in the Balkans, where, by anticipated victories over the Turks, Russia hoped soon to have the upper hand. England could not but feel sympathy for the improvement in the balance of power, which, while adding nothing to the strength of Germany, was likely to increase the prestige and resources of Austria-Hungary. It is superfluous to note the reasons why the proposal of compensation in the Balkans was particularly agreeable to Austria-Hungary. If, then, we cast a last parting glance on the famous treaty of 1878, as far as it concerns the present crisis in the Near East, we are fortified in the conviction that what was then done was a matter not of neighborly or friendly kindliness but a measure growing out of the necessities of the European balance of power.

By Article XXV. of the Treaty of Berlin, Austria-Hungary was empowered to occupy and to administer, to the exclusion of any other sovereign, the two Turkish provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. These two mountainous and beautiful provinces were then, as they are today, inhabited by a people speaking the same Slav languages (Croato-Serbian), but point of religion divided into half a million Muslims, a little over half a million Greek Orthodox, and about three hundred thousand Roman Catholics. The men are much more numerous than the women. The two provinces join the southern border of Austria-Hungary and constitute the hinterland of Dalmatia on the Adriatic. They were, before 1878, the most northern of the European dominions of Turkey. They gave Austria-Hungary a leverage in the Balkans; and since, by the Treaty of Berlin, Austria-Hungary was even charged with the purely military administration of the Sanjak of Novibazar, to the south of Bosnia, the Dual Monarchy seemed to have received the tacit mandate to advance to what is relatively very near to Novibazar -— to the Aegean Sea.

Major Archibald Colquhoun begins here.

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