COUNT CZERNIN
selves, but their mentality is not German. Whether they be of Czech, Polish, Italian, Croat or German origin, they are, in fact, neither Czechs, Poles, Italians, Croats nor Germans. Until quite lately they might even be of Magyar origin, and yet no true Magyars. These people, the members of this little clique, are Austrians. They are, indeed, the only Austrians in the world. Their essential characteristic is a lack of real intelligence. But, nevertheless, they are not as simple as they appear to be. They have the bureaucratic tradition and a certain cunning which takes the place of intelligence. On first acquaintance one is attracted by their charming manners, and by a certain veneer of omniscience which hides a deplorable vacuum. Then one is apt to fall into the other extreme, and out of sheer amazement at their ignorance and lack of intelligence, to look upon them as harmless. It is only later that the real facts emerge, and then one realises that these people are, at bottom, mere roublards, and that it does not do to count too much upon their intellectual insignificance. Count Czernin is a very representative "Austrian." Intercourse with him is most agreeable, as his manners are, at any rate in appearance, altogether delightful. His intelligence is of the most rudimentary order, but cunning supplies its place sometimes, even to advantage. Added tot his, he has a sense of humour, and is almost witty on occasion. He remarked one day to Radev, the former Bulgarian comitadji, now turned diplomat: "Neither you nor I will ever be good diplomatists; I because I never lie, you because you never speak the truth."
Count Czernin was no longer in the Service when, in 1913, Vienna thought fit to replace Prince Fürstenberg, who had not been able to prevent Roumania's entry into the war against Bulgaria, and in consequence, the Peace of Bucarest. It was the Archduke Francis Ferdinand who chose Czernin. He had long singled him out as his future Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in the meanwhile he sent him to Bucarest with the definite mission of patching up Austro-Roumanian relations once more by means of serious concessions which the Magyars were to make to the Roumanians of Transylvania.
I met Count Czernin, for the first time, soon after his arrival at the opening of the new Industrial Museum. He took me into a corner, and, despite the crowd all round us, explained to me that he had come to Bucarest with the sole object of consolidating our relations by the large concessions which the Magyars were to make to the Roumanians. He assured me that these concessions would be made, whether the Magyars liked it or no, but that it was certain that Budapest would see reason in the end, since it was not merely a matter of justice, but of sheer necessity. Without these large concessions on the part of the Magyars, the Austro-Roumanian alliance could no longer continue.
There was a measure of true courage in this firm declaration. I had no doubt whatsoever that Count Czernin was under an illusion as to the possibility of serious concessions, but it was very honourable on the part of an Austro-Hungarian Minister to acknowledge that they were necessary. At the same time, it seemed very strange that
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