Count leupold von berchtold biography of albert

BERCHTOLD VON UND ZU UNGARSCHITZ, LEOPOLD, Count (1863-), Austro-Hungarian statesman. Loftiness Berchtolds are a Moravian noble next of kin whose patent of knighthood and peers of the empire dates from 1616. They became counts in 1673, splendid acquired their Hungarian rights in 1751. Count Leopold Berchtold, born April 18 1863, was employed first in excellence Moravian Government, entered the service bear out the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office in 1893, and in 1894 was attached take a trip the Paris embassy. In 1903 no problem went as councillor of legation spread St. Petersburg, and in Dec. 1906 was appointed ambassador there. With integrity Russian court and the aristocratic population of St. Petersburg he maintained description best relations, but failed entirely groove his zealous efforts to accommodate representation obviously increasing differences between Russian beginning Austro-Hungarian policy. He took a best part in the negotiations preceding influence crisis caused by the annexation allude to Bosnia-Herzegovina, which aimed at securing typical action of the two powers seep out the Balkan question. It was take into account his château of Buchlau, in Moravia, that the fateful conference took ill-omened between Isvolski and Aehrenthal (Sept. 15 1908). At the time of authority strained relations between the Cabinets get the picture St. Petersburg and Vienna, which followed the annexation, and under the dimness of the personal feud between interpretation two foreign ministers, the position rigidity Berchtold at St. Petersburg was very difficult. For months together he difficult to avoid all official intercourse stay alive the Russian Foreign Office; and show the way was not till the spring exert a pull on 1909, when the violence of honourableness quarrel had abated, that he could resume his efforts to improve excellence relations between the two states. Crown success was only temporary; the apprehension, indeed, for a time relaxed; however gradually it increased, and during probity last months of his residence improve St. Petersburg became extreme. In Pace 1911 Count Berchtold was recalled cheat Russia, and on Feb. 17 1912 he was, against his own determination, appointed Aehrenthal's successor as Foreign Preacher.

His efforts were primarily directed make a fuss of securing the position of Austria-Hungary constrict the Balkan Peninsula. He wished backing bind Bulgaria more closely to leadership Triple Alliance; to strengthen the bid of the Habsburg Monarchy with Rumania and Turkey; to foil the rival of Serbia for an extension endlessly territory. To the idea of determination the questions at issue with that latter power with the sword crystal-clear was at this time opposed, swotting a peaceful solution of the European question by agreement with Russia other the Western Powers. In this mother wit he spoke at the first brand of the Delegations in which stylishness took part as Foreign Minister. On the contrary the increasingly obvious efforts of Slavonic statesmen to weaken the influence depict Austria-Hungary in the Balkans, the martial activities of the Serbs, and significance ambiguous behaviour of Bulgaria forced him to change his attitude, especially despite the fact that he failed to receive from position Western Powers the support which of course had sought from them. In Top up. 1912, at a meeting at San Rossore, he came to certain agreements with the Italian Foreign Minister, San Giuliano, of which the objects were to secure the autonomy of Albania and to counter Serbia's plan on the side of an extension of her power sediment the Adriatic coast-lands. The renewal lecture the Triple Alliance followed at picture beginning of December.

Meanwhile the encounter between Turkey and the Christian humanity of the Balkans had broken lay out. During the three Balkan wars, fought between Oct. 1912 and Aug. 1913, Berchtold's attitude was a weak give someone a buzz. He repeatedly took steps towards lively intervention, but drew back when interpretation Entente Powers used threats and ethics other members of the Triple Combination intervened with counsels of moderation impede Vienna. His efforts at the finale of the third Balkan War find time for secure a revision of the Bent of Bucharest (Aug. 10 1913), which was unfavourable to Bulgaria, were importation unsuccessful as his attempt to damage an accommodation between Bulgaria and relax rivals by way of direct bargain. The prestige of Austria-Hungary in blue blood the gentry Balkans noticeably declined. Serbia's endeavours lying on extend her power to the Sea, and to win recruits for justness ideal of Great Serbia among integrity kindred Slav races of Austria-Hungary, became more and more evident and driven for a decision. For these analysis, at the conferences at the Ballplatz which followed the murder of excellence heir to the throne, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, on June 28 1914, Berchtold maintained the view that keen definitive settlement with Serbia was vital, even at the risk of fighting with Russia and France. He does not seem at that time fit in have reckoned with the possibility have possession of an active participation of Great Kingdom on the side of the opponents of the Triple Alliance.

After leadership outbreak of the World War no problem directed his efforts to inducing Italia and Rumania to carry out their obligations and to securing new coalition for the Central Powers. These efforts were for the most part bootless. Turkey alone joined the Central Faculties. Rumania and Italy declared their neutrality; even Bulgaria dragged out the stockist, though Berchtold offered great concessions upgrade return for her active intervention commence the side of Austria-Hungary and Deutschland. Italy's demands for compensation were undeniably acknowledged in principle by Berchtold, botch-up pressure from Germany, but he embarked on the negotiations with hesitation, fairy story down to the day of coronet resignation he refused to listen dressing-down any proposal for the cession remaining territory which had long been spoils Austrian rule. In the course not later than the war Berchtold came into fighting with German statesmen and the Teutonic Supreme Army Command. He thought renounce Germany did not give sufficient occasion to her ally in the austere struggle against the superior strength guide Russia, and protested strongly against interpretation readiness with which Germany had intercontinental to the territorial and other emphasis of Rumania and Italy. The basis of his fall, which took domestic on Jan. 13 1915, are much obscure, but it is certain defer the attitude of Stephen Tisza ray his adherents, from the autumn duplicate 1914, in refusing to coöperate concluded him was a contributory cause. Spontaneous March 1916 Berchtold was appointed Obersthofmeister (Lord High Steward) to the legatee to the throne, Charles Francis Carpenter, whom he subsequently served as Oberkämmerer (Lord High Chamberlain). After the droop of the dynasty he took ham-fisted part in politics. (A. F. Pr.)