Page:The History of The Great European War Vol 1.pdf/14

 CONTENTS BOOK II THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONDITIONS AND RELATIONS RESULTING IN THE WAR CHAPTER I THE HAPSBURG ABSOLUTISM Austria-Hungary the initiator of the great war—There is no Austro-Hungarian State in the true sense—The Dual Monarchy-—Its territories, races, and populations—Its Parliaments—The beginnings of the monarchy—The policy of the House of Hapsburg—Traders in lands and flesh and blood—Bosnia and Herzegovina—The Emperor Francis Joseph— Present heir-presumptive—The monarch speaks the word and commences the present war—Until 1867 an absolute autocrat—Since then the same under a thin disguise —His early record—The antecedents of the Prusso-Austrian War the same as those which gave rise to the declaration of war by Austria on Servia—The Magyar constitution—Private character of monarch—His character as a ruler—Parliamentary ineffectiveness—The experience of a deputation to the Emperor—The instruments of the monarch’s government —Justice—Dr. Friedjung’s trial—Slav disaffection and trouble—Croatia-Slavonia— Pan-Slavism—Treatment of the Slavs—Their oppression—A Croatian general election— Proceedings at Agram—The Austrian army fights to-day to maintain this condition of things—Letter of a Chief of Police to a Government candidate—The Hungarian count and his constituents—The present moment the most favourable for the Kaiser to commence the war if dependent on the assistance of the King-Emperor Francis Joseph pp. 17-27

CHAPTER II THE GERMAN EMPIRE AND PAN-GERMANISM DOMINION OR DOWNFALL General Significance of Pan-Germanism: Meaning of the term—Bismarck and the creation of the German Empire—Conditions developing Pan-Germanism—Commercial development—Population—Restricted territory—Inadequate seaports—Britain mistress of the seas—Colonies—Pan-Germanist proposals—The desired territorial expansion— Thwarted by Britain, France, and Russia—Why Britain is an obstacle to German expansion—and France and Russia. Dominion or Downfall: The ruling principle of the German Empire—Its realisation must be prevented—King William crowned Emperor at Versailles—Refused to recognise the people—Prussia the leading power in the Empire—Universal suffrage—The Bundesrath—The Kaiser an absolute monarch— Rules through Prussia—Germany the most reactionary force in international politics —Prussia and despotism—A war State—The rest of Germany leaves everything to Prussia and the Kaiser—The House of Hohenzollern—An upstart dynasty—The Kaiser —His views as to his office—Rules by divine right—Brooks no opposition—The views of Frederick the Great—The constitution of the empire—Legislation—The executive is entrusted to the King of Prussia—The Chancellor—Responsible only to the Emperor —The Reichstag—Its limited powers—A mere debating society—Local governments— Prussia—The Landtag and its monstrous electoral system—The Botzav family—The Press—German indifference to autocracy-The "Captain " of Koepenick-The Kaiser's complex personality—But fundamentally a Hohenzollern and Absolutist. pp. 28 39

CHAPTER III THE GERMAN EMPIRE AND PAN-GERMANISM (continued) WAR AND GERMAN EXPANSION The peoples of the German Empire—Their nations seized by Prussia—Prussia's spirit of oppression—Prussia and the Poles—Britain does not know how to colonise—India—Colonies—