IN THE NEAR EAST.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 12119, 22 December 1913, Page 5

IN THE NEAR EAST.

| EVERY NATION FOR ITSELF. i"Bx Electric Telegraph—CorrwcpT.] (Pee Press Association.) Received December ; 21, at 5.5 p:in. December 20. ' The Times says that despite lierr ■Hollweg's and Marouig San Galliano's pacific assurances, the situation in the Near East is causing anxiety owing to Continental opinion : approaching tlicj problem from the standpoint of the Triple Alliance and -Triple Entente .instead: of from the European standpoint, which has preserved peace hitherto. The difficulty is illustrated by Germany asking the 'Triple Alliance to give a concerted answer to the British Note. Italy and Austria agree regarding-the Southern Albanian boundary and- the Adriatic, hut Italy is not willing to assent to Sir K. Grey's assumption that the treaty of Lausanne has been fulfilled, necessitating the immediate return of the /Kgean Islands lo Turkey. France is suspicious that Italy means to retain her hold ol the alter they have been nominally returned to Turkey. Though France accepts Marquis San Giuliano's assurance that the Tr.ipic Alliance has not modified, and she fears that a military or naval convention ' attached • 'thereto may have. been altered to France's disadvantage in the Mediterranean. France, is irrftated .- -a t ' Russia's hesitancy regarding a German officer having command at Constantmople. ' __ . The Times states- that Turkey has not arrived at an irrevocable decision, and points out that it should be remembered that Kiissia and Franco have power lo paralyse tho Bagdad railway. Rus?ia desires that Mount Athos should be under the" protectorate of the orthodox States, which would involve a change in tin-- Mediterranean balance ol power as grave as tho Italian control of the ,Kgean Islands. Austria fears the development of Slav Servia, and is attempting to secure financial control of the Orient railway, hoping thereby to secure free access, to. Salonika.