THE LANSING PAPERS, 1914-1920, VOLUME I



874.001 F 37/44&
The Ambassador in Austria-Hungary (Penfield) to the Secretary of
                             State

                                    VIENNA, February 21, 1916.
  MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: King Ferdinand of Bulgaria has been
in Vienna just a week today. His Apostolic Majesty Francis Joseph
had made this astute Balkan ruler an honorary Field Marshal, and
etiquette demanded that he come to thank in person the venerable
ruler of Austria-Hungary.
  I learn by underground wireless that the visitation had more to
it than the ceremonious giving of thanks for the Marshal's baton,
very much more. Only on the day of the visitor's arrival was he
the guest of the Emperor. The rest ol the time he has been at the
Vienna palace of his brother, Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg and
Gotha. The function at Schbnbrunn was of the conventional char-
acter, with the usual dejeuner, and the usual court officials present.
The conventional decorations were conferred back and forth, the
town was beflagged, and everything bore the impress of perfunc-
toriness.
  I am assured however that the event lacked the usual attractive
,character of a royal visitation, and there was no warmth or enthu-
siasm observable anywhere in official circles.
  Ferdinand has never been liked by Austrians, who believe that
his shrewdness at times borders on sharpness of practice. Certain
Vienna grandees claim that Ferdinand has always bested the Gov-
ernment of Francis Joseph, and that he is so shifty in his opinions
and character as to be called the "Weathercock of Balkan diplomacy."
  The real purpose of the King's visit is the parceling of Servia,
and I have been favored from a dependable quarter with information
as to Ferdinand's programme-which is to help himself to two-thirds
of the conquered country, permitting Austria-Hungary to possess
the Danubian section with a hinterland amounting approximately to
practically a third of King Peter's former territory. The Sandjak
of Novi Bazaar also falls to Austria-Hungary by the programme
agreed in principle between the Ballplatz and the visiting sovereign.
When in the pourparlers it was hinted that Ferdinand was hoping
to receive a share greater than had been expected, Ferdinand's nego-
tiators insisted that had Bulgaria not entered the war at the psy-
chological moment Serbia would not have been conquered. And,
besides, as the German Emperor was waiving his rights in the par-



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