THE BALKANS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 7

THE BALKANS.

AUSTRO-SERVIAN DISPUTE. A CONFERENCE. POSSIBILITY OF COLLECTIVE' PROPOSALS. (BT TKLE(]R»?H—IBESS ASSOCIATION—COPTHIOnT.I Paris, February 21. The French Minister for Foreign Affairs, ftl. Piolion, conferrod with tho British, Gorman, Italian; and Russian Ambassadors as to tho possibility of collective proposals being made- for a settlement of-tho AustrorServiari dispute. TURKEY AND RUSSIA. Constantinople, February 21. The Servian Ministerial crisis has stopped Turkey's negotiations with Russia respecting tho proposed Bulgarian sottloment and the payment of tho war indemnity owing by Turkey to Russia. EXCITEMENT IN SERVIA.,

MAINTAINED, AT FEVER HEAT; r> '■■ ; VC BULGAR r IA!S INDEPENDENCE. >■,: {Roc. : ; February: 22, 9.35 p.m.).: : , ,':'-: ..^Vienna,': February' 22.;.';: ■It is ■ declared in.'. official • circles in \Vienna that Austria; Iwiil. not. assumethe offensive. '■ ~V\ : :'■■ ■<'-:'. ■'■ ',:-■ : ' : --; /, V. Paris,;. February..22.'■■■-. •:': .Austria's declaration' is credited in Paris, but.'Servian'provocations are apprehended. ; ■••' -V;.:;vv :: : ;-"■ : r;'■ 22.■'■■.■. ; : The .''Times's". v Belgrade'.correspondent affirms 1 that M. ; Passitch 'is 'the'-only. Servian politician who,has refrained from inflammatory- language';. The escitementas maintained 'at:fevor/h'eat. : ;.The public apparently, over- ' estimated ,tho. ■ powers of,. pan-Slavism. . The Moiitenogrina. are-irrecdhcilably:warlike.' and ignorant of. outside affairs. ;' : :, V ... .-V|- ■:' •'■ In 'response to the: Porte's. circular,' com-pjaiuing.of,-royal'honours bestowed on Prince .Ferdinand at St.-: Petersburg,.. Britain and 'France':have; forwarded :-tranquillising' dispatches to the. Porte, ■declaring, that, their entente. Svitli: Turkey; iii- the - first: .instance,; -and,, 1 then with :'■ others; must-: precede'' any. recognition,', of.the .independence 'of garia^Vvv.i^;."Y:- ; :'^ ; ',,. .' "': :/ : ':'.:' : :';•:':■.' '^'"■ V' ;i s l' Petersburg, /February-22. \- ;:■ Mi Isvblsky, -Ministerfor, Foreign* Affairs, .has^.informed"'the 'ambassadbra--that Prince -Ferdinand. espresscd-a'desire to'attend, the '.funeral;of 1 his. relative .by..marnago. ;: .M. Isvqlsisy-.was.'careful'.to explain that hisTeooptipn ps a .Sovereign .did: not.imply: the (formal "recognition, of ■ indepoud.ence, .which; : 6ould ffolioTv :only -after.,Tur.key's^conseht;,;;/,":. -.X. , ; ; V ... : ''. ; ■.■',:■■:'!':■

:-:^v' ; i? THE.rR'[iSKS:.bFVwAR; ;; i-:;;;v , >^ ; S-TheoLondoai "Daily Mail-' of JAivnary/ M states:— ; '' '" ':;■'-'•■'■■>"■'.-;'', v -'.'■■■ ■■ 5; .The!, acceptance by'Turkoyof-. .£12,500,000 as compensation ;for "■■■: the ;; annexation of-:Bosnia and Herze'govina - removes one of. the - risks of ; war in;;the.Near East. :y, ; ; ■■'-■;.' .'•:'-;•■: .-•■;'.■■■. ! . ~'; There remain, however, for settlement 'other issues - only l_ess;iraporlant: '/ ■ y. "■■'- ;V : . ,-;.:>.. ■ : .Coaipensati6n...to Turkey' by 'Bulgariiv -for the 'seizure of;.tUe 'railway leased \>y th» ';ttom,an; Government tei -an.'- Austro-German com-. panyi-■■, , ;- ; -:i.''-;.-f i i : ."v : --'': ; ':'. v .;- ■.' ■■:••'.-.' .■•':'-.' ■ ;..'! Compensation ' r to Turkey by Bulgaria' for depriving .tbo;.Ottoman: Government 'of. the suzerainty.:'• over; Eastern. Roumolia. '•>■'■.' ■ : .:.. iVSatis'fabtion of ; the. demands of Servia lind ;. seek ; territorial- •: concessions .from .Austria-.: that ■■■■will: release Sorvia from 'lier:.enclaye;.. ; and uaite.th'e;two ..Slav Status by, a i 'obuloir sbip; of laud; and give access,to the:'Adriatic)/' Montenegro, also demands, the cession', of Spizza, which dominates the'harbour ofAhtivari, on the .Adriatic .':' ; ~•■/• ; .'Bosnia; and ; Herzegovina demand: adniinis'r'atiye. autonomy,- .and are: supported in';their, demaride.by Servia.and.'Montpnogro.v. -.:V : V---.:..'. ..- Finally; Crete appeals , to be relieved ■of • the Turkish'suzerainty andmade part of tho.Gieek v.i;' .t /;:.- : :. ;-.t.■■■•;■:■ '■■■.- \- :n.-. " ...