BERCHTOLD, LEOPOLD ANT

’ DE JOH. SIGISMUND, COUNT VON (1863), Austrian statesman, who early avor 0: at of Hungary. ‘ter ho small] yarious minor positions in diplomatic | service he became am ba a do r to Ru ia were| (1906). In 1912 he succeeded Achrenthal | as Austro-Hungarian foreign minister, Homme|and one of his first announcements was: ‘It will be our honest endeavor to | maintain our traditionally good relations a with England.’ But he was only a tigure- | head, the tool of the aggre ive military and clerical groups whose policy he was | forced to carry out under the domination | og Tisza, the Hungarian premier. At end | of first Balkan War (1912) he prompted, | Bulgaria to attack Serbia, hoping that im-| the defeat of latter would open up for Austria the road to Salonica and the A@gean. Following the Serajevo inciAS-/jdent, Berchtold presented the fatal E.), ultimatum to Belgrade, which was a of | Challenge not only to Serbia but to Ru ia and the Allies. Following on | differences with Tisza in Jan. 1915 he to | resigned office, and in March of the fol- | lowing year received an appointment at | town, Ukranine, Ru ia; silk, iron. Pop. - port, Sea of Azof, Ru ia; grain. Pop. c. 30,000.