EUROPE'S BABY STATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 156, 30 June 1914, Page 10

EUROPE'S BABY STATE.

ALBANIA'S FIRST CRISIS.

WAR MINISTER' DEPORTED.

[from OUR own CORRESPONDENT,.] London, May 22. Although, Prince William, of Wied has only ruledvOver tire new Slate of Albania for aVfefciSveekayiie has''early had to deal v.'th serious trouble. Tho one Outstanding fact in a complicated situation is that Essad Pasha, defender of Scutari, and War Minister in Prince William's Cabinet, has been arrested for intriguing against tho Government, and deported, after signing a declaration that he would not return to Albania without the Prince's permission.

Essad Pasha is a very able but unreliable person, and at one time he entertained hopes of being himself King of Albania. When he found that the Powers would not agree to this he upparontly accepted Prince William as ruler. However, he quickly turned to his favourite role of intriguing, and the general impression is that if ho had not been promptly dealt with he would have overthrown the dynasty so recently established by tho Powers. Exactly what Essad Pasha has done is not clear, but the Vienna correspondent of tho Morning Post relates the following course of events which led to his arrest-—

'.' Tho tension between Essad Pasha and Prince William recently had increased as ovidonce of Essad Pasha's complicity in the revolutionary movement became known, and, owing to his hostility to the Dutch officers. The Zcit learns from Scutari that a letter written by Essad Pasha, in which Essad Pasha ordered his agents to persuade people to obey only his commands, and not those of the Prince fell into Prince William's hands. On Monday night Essad Pasha increased his bodyguard to 80 men. The Prince thereupon summoned hint to the palace, unci, alter a stormy scene, Essad Pasha tendered his resignation and returned home. Tho Prince then held a council with the Dutch officers, and decided to compel tho disbandmeut of Essad Pasha's bodyguard.

Firing on the Palace. " Early in the morning a Dutch officer conveyed the prince's command to Essad Pasha. Ho nt first appeared to consent, and then told his men tn resist. They begin to firu upon the Prince's armed adherent:; in tho street. According to one account Essad Pasha himself fired the first shut in tho direction of the Prince'* Palace. Meanwhile, a battery which had been brought into position during tho night opened pre on Essad Pasha's house, on which ho soon hoisted the White flag. At tiio same time signals were raised on the pnlace, asking for help from the warships in tho harbour. Austrian and Italian detachments landed and guarded the palace. A mixed party, under tho command of an Italian officer, then arrested Essad Pasha at the prince's request, and escorted him to tho Sztgetvar, where he wassdetained as a prisoner in the captain's cabin. x > "The connection between Essad Pasha and the peasant rebels from Tirana » still obscure. According to one report from Durazzi, they killed Mar'ar Boy and Muliad Boy, and wounded two other Beys, all members of the Toptani family, of which Essad Pasha is chief. It is suggested that the peasants, after being instigated to rise by Essad Pasha, turned against him and the other landlords. Turkhan Pasha, the Albanian Premier, who has been at Budapest, for two days, appears to have been completely taken by surprise at tho sudden turn of events. Ho is supposed to be a partisan of Essad Pasha, as ho has been living in his house, and only a few days ago, in Italy, described bim as nn excellent man and a faithful supporter of Prince William. Turkhan Pasha's position has become somewhat equivocal here, and he is mow or less an official guest of tho Attetro-Hungarian Government."

Opinion In Vienna. Opinion in Vienna as to the future development of the situation is radiotory. Count Berchtold himself said, in the Delegations, that it was not possible yet to form a judgment, but that it was natural that such incidents should arise in tho creation of a now State in the Balkans, and that there was no reason for drawing unfavourable conclusions as to the future. The serai-official newspapers are more optimistic. Thus tho Pesto Lloyd hails Essad Pasha's arrest as a remarkable proof of the energy of Prince William, and declares that he will now be in a position to base his powor on the young democratic elements! of Albania, and will save the country from tho incubus of the old Turkish Pasha and Bey regime. Tho mdepondent newspapers, however, express misgivings at th> effect on the Albanian people of Prince William having had to call in foreign help.

Another Version. An Italian journalist who has arrived at Brindisi from Durazzo gives an account of the events of which he wns an eye-witness. The plot again* l , Easad Pasha, he says, was oiganised by.a small group of Nationalists educated" abroad, who aim at destroying the influenco of the local Beys, of whom Essad Pasha is tho chief representative. The revolution was thus democratic in character, but appears to have been aided by the Austrians end the Austrophil party. ' The excuse for tho outbreak was an incident which occurred between the commander of the Dutch gendarmerie and Essad Pasha, Tho latter offored his resignation, which Prince William refused. Tho Nationalists, with tho heln of the Austrians, opened fire on Essad Pasha's house with two guns at 4 a.m., whereupon Essad Pasha appeared at a window and fired soveral rovolver shots At them without result. An Italian officer, Major Moltodo, then arrived, entered the house, aid was implored by K?sad Pasha's wife to save her husband. Essad Pasha immediately declared himself to bo at tho disposition of Italy. A council was then held at tho Palace, ?r\A it was decided to remove Esßad Pasha from Albania. Meanwhile, Italian and Austrian sailors had disembarked and occupied the chief points of Durazzo. Essad Pasha, protected all the way by his wife, who covered him with her body, was escorted on board tho Austrian warship Szigotvar. As he entered tho launch he bade the Austrian dra soman to present his respects to Prince William, and declared that lie had loyally served him and that his conscience was clear. The Nationalists then held a demonstration before tho Palace, and Prince William thanked them in Albanian. Discontent prevails throughout Albania, and in Rome tho situation is regarded as very grave. I