It is a case, then, of, 'When I was so quickly done for, I wonder what I was begun for'-- that is what all Europe is asking." "Is it not generally supposed, Mr.Hardwick, that his object was to consolidate Austria and Hungary?
I understood that local politics were at the bottom of his fiery speech." "Quite so, but the rousing of the war spirit in Austria and Hungary was useless unless that spirit is given something to do.

It needs a war, not a threat of war, to consolidate Austria and Hungary.

If the speech had been followed up by hostile action, or by another outburst that would make war inevitable, I could understand it.

The tone of the speech indicates that the Prime Minister meant business at the time he gave utterance to it.

Something has occurred meanwhile to change the situation, and what that something is, all the newspapers in Europe have been trying to find out.