PEACE CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15168, 6 December 1912, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE.

TO OPEN NEXT WEEK. HOPEFULNESS OF TURKS. SULTAN WILL NOT GIVE UP ADBIANQPLE. A MOSLEM SANCTUARY. By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright. London, December 4. The peace negotiations will be opened in London on December 13. In Constantinople the peace conference is viewed with some misgivings. On the other hand the Turks are still speculating on the effect of possible dissensions amongst the Powers and above all the threatened disruption of the Balkan League.

Leading Turks are showing extraordinary hopefulness owing to the successful resistance at Chataldja. The Neue Freie Presse (Vienna) states that Russia, France, and England have urged Bulgaria to conclude separate peace, failing concurrence of Greece in her terms, thus confining the continuance of the conflict to the province of Epirus.

The same paper states that M. de Giers (Russian Minister in Constantinople) has informed the Grand Vizier that Russia will not recognise Albanian independence, and will only agree to an autonomous province under an international guarantee.

The terms of the armistice signed by all the States except Greece (who will be allowed to continue the war alone if she so desires)' allow the belligerents to remain in their present positions, but do not allow the besieged fortresses to be revictualled, the Bulgarians may be revictualled via the Black Sea.

The Sultan has telegraphed to King Ferdinand of Bulgaria stating that he is prompted by most peaceful motives, but is unable to renounce Adrianople, which the Turks consider a Mahomedan sanctuary.

The recent speeches of Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg (German Chancellor) and Herr von Kiderlen-Wach-ter (German Minister for Foreign Affairs) have created a favourable impression in Vienna.

The newspapers hope that Britain will continue her efforts in Paris and St. Petersburg to secure a peaceful settlement.