BURIAN, STEPHEN, BARON OF

statesman, of Slovak descent; as AustroHungarian consul at Moscow acquired @ knowledge of Ru ian affairs; later as minister at Athens and afterwards adbecame intimately acquainted with. Balkan politics. In Jan. 1915 he was appointed foreign minister by Count Tisza, and in this capacity had to handle diplomatic relations with Italy, which were becoming every day more strained. His reluctance to make conce ions resulted in the declaration of war (May 1915). Influenced by Germany, he adopted a similar attitude towards the demands of the pro-Austrian Poles, and his diplomatic blundering was _ severely criticized by the Hungarian Parliament. Afterwards he took the lead in approaching other Central Powers with a plan for peace proposals, culminating in offer of Dec. 1916. After the resignation of the government at that time, he remained in retirement, till recalled in April, 1918, only remain ing in power for a short time, and being: succeeded by his i opponent, Count _ Andra y, who accepted the terms of | peace,