Serbian Press on Russian Foreign Policy during the Balkan Crisis of 1908–1909

Abstract

The article pioneers the interpretation of Russia’s foreign policy covered in the Serbian press during the Balkan crisis of 1908–1909. The roots of the Balkan crisis went back to the Berlin Congress of 1878, when the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by Austria-Hungary, and the central territory of the Balkan Peninsula remained under the control of the Ottoman Empire. At the beginning of the 20th century, relations in the territories of Macedonia, Kosovo, and Thrace became increasingly tense, as Christian peoples (Serbs, Greeks, and Bulgarians) tried to annex these areas to their states. Austria-Hungary wanted to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina and begin a push into the central Balkans as far as Thessaloniki, which met opposition from Serbia. In early October 1908, Austria-Hungary officially annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to months of great drama. Serbia was preparing for war, while Austria-Hungary began partial mobilization. In such circumstances, the Serbian press reported daily on the influence of the great powers in resolving the Balkan crisis. The Serbian press gave the highest coverage to Russia, hoping for help from the fraternal country. The idea of Russia and the great powers was to convene a conference at which the problems on the Balkan Peninsula would be resolved. Under the influence of Austria-Hungary, Germany ultimately, under the threat of war, forced Russia to accept the Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thus, in March and April 1909, all the great powers accepted the annexation and forced Serbia to recognize the fait accompli. The Serbian press, going from great hope for Russia in the autumn and winter of 1908–1909 to immense disappointment in March and April, wrote about the Russian foreign policy and the betrayal of Serbian interests. They accused the Russian Foreign Minister Izvolsky of all the problems on the Balkan Peninsula.