MOSLEM HOSTILITY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15017, 11 July 1914, Page 12

MOSLEM HOSTILITY.

(vßOii orn OAVN C«RR_SrOXOEXT.) . LONDON, May 29. It is extremely- difficult to say Avhat is happening in ■>'Albania, but it is evident that Prince William's throne is in danger. The arrest and deportation of Essad Pasha* wero followed by. dramatic developments. In a . skirmish with the gendarmerie and volunteers outside Durazzo, the rebels defeated the forces sent against them, captured the Dutch oiticers, and many others, and threatened tlie capital itself. Inlected Avith the panic which seems to havo seized on most of his advisers, King William, on Saturday afternoon, took refuge with the Queen and their children on board an Austrian mau-o'-ivar, whence they- Aver© transferred to au Italian vessel. _ . This happened between 4 and 5 m the afternoon. Later on the Control Commission had an interview Avith the rebel leaders, who showed themselves unexpectedly amenable. They put forward certain demands, however, which they said must be granted, or they would shoot their prisoners. This threat \A-as not taken vory seriously but King William agreed to see a deputation.. His Majesty meanwtyle, finding that the danger was not so great as he had supposed, returned with his family to his Palace, Avhere he now is. What the outcome of all these strange proceedings may be it is difficult to predict, but it is certain that the King s precipitous flight and rather undignified return -will lose him whatever prestigo hp may havo enjoyed, and that his further continuance on tho throne is rendered extremely difficult, if not impossible. In fact, the Rome "Triune declared that the King has anvaed his signature to all the, demands ot the rebels/and that actually a treaty of abdication has been concluded. This report, is, hoAvever, unconfirmed. . . " Prince William of Wied onW arrived in Durazzo on March sth last, having been offered the throne by a deputation headed by Essad Pasha, which camo to Neuwied on February 22nd. AUSTRO-ITALIAN JEALOUSY. In the Chamber at Rome the Marquis di San Giuliano, Minister for Foreign Affairs, attributed the insurrection to agrarian and religious causes, to the traditional reluctance of the Albanians to pay taxes and accept compulsory military service. No prool of lLad Pasha's complicity, he said, had vet come to light Tho Austrian artillery officers had left Durazzo and the Dutch Major Schleuss would be* snnt away to the south. .. The Foreign Minister then stated that he and Count Berchtold had'caml to an agreement as to the policy to be S__ued by Italy and Austri-vHungary, -£_____ was, as before recent events, the consolidation of Albania and the strengthening of the Prince's authority %ha t had happened in the north would not modify the decisions reached respecting Epirus. Both Governments would seek to avoid armed intervention in Albania, and would recall their sailors to their ships as soon as possible. They would prefer the despatch of international troops irom Scutari, J _nd Italy was asking the other PoAvers to send them. Both tlie AUies desired that the Commission of control should aid the Albanian Government. In reply to a query by the Italian Ambassador in Vienna Count Berchtold had stated that if any Austrophil Albanians had a hand in tho revolt they were not inspired by the Austro-Hungarian' Government. Count Forgach, Under-Secretary of! the Foreign Office, speaking behalf of Count Berchtold, rh* the Hungarian Delegation, deprecated premature criticism of the conduct of Prince William,, on the ground that it was still impossible to judge what the motives were which caused him to takes the Princess and his children on board an Italian ship on Saturday as the result'of the advice given him by the Italian Minister., Austria-Hungary- only ami, hesaid, Avas the_ consolidation of Albania. • That tie Aus-rian officers present'" at; Durazzo in connexion with the trial, of guns delivered by Austrian firms, like 7, the Italian, German,- and Dutchmen, did not remain inactive during the recent fighting, could easily. be understood, but their interference was to he ' attributed to chance and necessity, and not to a preconceived plan. Warships and landing detachments were, unlikely* to interfere, as Austria-Hungary* in agreement with the Italian Government, wished to avoid interference as far as possible. Should it be necessary to guard tho Palace and the European colonies for a longer period, . contingents from Scutari could replace the landing detachments, and negotiations were proceeding on. this question. *

ESSA3> TELLS HIS STORY. Essad Pasha'is in Italy. Interview?*! at Rome, ho said ho "Jiod agreed to be the faithful servant of King William, and he would not discuss the measures taken"against him. The future would justify him. Hβ set forth the difficulties which he had encountered in suppressing tho first demonstrations, the Dutch gendarmerie hampering . his "action for fear that he meant to make use of the army to satisfy "his" personal ambitiofls. He affirmed that he had the full confidence of the King. He went on to relate the assault on his house, where he was wfEh his wife and seventeen other persons (not 70 or 80, as has been stated). Essad Pasha dwelt on the importance of'the religious .'question in the recent events. The Albanian rationalists who dreamed of an. Albania free of all protection were, he said, hostile to Italy and Austria, but they were only some fifty in number, and there was no reason to take them into serious account. , ' •, .-