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COSMOPOLITISM v. NATIONALISM 53
powerful of the Slavonic States had incurred an obligation
to bring about a consolidation of all the Slavonic tribes
and to save them from Austrian oppression. The national
revival of the Balkan and Yugo Slavs certainly deserved
Russian consideration, and the world will always admire
the chivalrous self-sacrifice with which Russia embraced
the cause of the Balkan Slavs, but these noble aims might
have been reached by other means than warfare. A
compromise with Austria-Hungary might have achieved much
better results in the interests of the Slavs. Such a policy of
conciliation, had it been possible, would have strengthened
the position of Russia, while the policy inaugurated by the
Chancellor, Prince Gortchakoff, had the fatal result of
bringing the old rivals, Austria-Hungary and Germany, into
line. Since the creation of the Triple Alliance Russian
policy has unconsciously done its best to strengthen it
instead of working for its dissolution. It must be confessed
that Russia in the past has been singularly unhappy in the
promotion of her generous but unavailing Balkan policy.
She incurred thereby great responsibilities, heavy sacrifices,
a dangerous delay in the development of her internal
political affairs, and was even not able to prevent the two
fratricidal Serbo-Bulgarian Wars and the conflagration of
1914. Her political influence in shaping the fate of the
Balkan and Yugo Slavs was steadily on the decline instead
of being, as intended, of a decisive nature. Russia’s
diplomatic and military powers were not equal to her good
intentions. At present Austria has been delivered hand and
foot into Germany’s power by the Germanisation of her
population and a grafting of German aims upon her policy.
Placing, therefore, all the responsibility for the outbreak of
the war upon Austria for her unwarranted lust of conquest
and subjugation of Slavonic nations, it is doubtful whether
Russia might have averted the calamity by diplomatic
means. Judging from Austria’s annexation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, which undermined the legitimate national
aspirations of Greater Serbia, it would rather appear that
Russia’s inability to bring about a co-operation with Austria
c
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