SOUTH -EASTERN EUROPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1957, 23 May 1889, Page 32

SOUTH -EASTERN EUROPE.

States That May at Any Time Become } the Theatre of a Big War. j The three small kingdoms of Greece, j Servia, and Eoumania and the principality i of Bulgaria are not very important powers in } themselves in size, in population, in military, s strength or in political weight. But .there is' s a reason why. they are interesting to ., the v world, and why the events which succeed i

bleach other in their cornet ;of "Europe' are ! I anxiously ; watch by the Great Powert. > •!>' :\ ' j This reason is, that, by their "geographical position, they are closely connected : ! <with the £ivai ambitions of the two great emfpires of' Russia and Austria. It' follows that' any disturbances or important changesin either of the four small States seriously' threatens the peace of Europe. The situation is rendered the more serious because these little kingdoms and the Bulgarian principality are rivals of - each other. Each desires, to become larger and more powerful than it already is. . .; Greece covets its ancient . province of Macedonia, which ; is still, as Greece and all these other little States formerly were, a part of the Turkish Empire. Bulgaria also claims Macedonia. Each of these kingdoms, in, fact, opposes'the aspirations of its neigh* bours, not because either, of them favours Turkey, but because . it does not -.wish any rival Government to become unduly strong. Each sovereign, no doubt, hopes to become the heir of the Sultan's dominion.s, when the. Turkish empire in Europe falls into ruins. The rivalry between Serv'ia and Bulgaria is of long standing, and produced, the war j in which, a few years ago, thq Bulgarians, : under their gallant Prince Alexander, inflicted an unexpected and. crashing defeat upon the Servians. , ■ . The recent attitude of two, at leasb, of these small Stated has, moreover, altered the conditions of the famous Eastern question. Kussia went to war, 10 years ago, to liberate Bulgaria from the rule of the Turk. As a result of the war, Roumania, which preTiously achieved half independence, became an independent and sovereign State. Undoubtedly Russia expected that 'the gratitude of those two countries would show itself in aiding the Russian designs to capture Constantinople. She hoped thereby to make an easy path for herself to the historic city oh the banks of the Bosphorus. • But it turns out that Roumania, Bulgaria, and also Servia, are not only, unwilling to join their military forces to those of Russia in a march.to Constantinople, but thab they Jobject to the passage of a Russian army through, their te'ritory. Instead, therefore, ,of providing easy stepping-stones for the Czar, they had become serious, and perhaps unyielding, obstacles in his path. Meantime each of the smaller kingdoms and Bulgaria are showing signs of progress 'and increasing strength. In Greece King George, son of the King of Denmark, has just, celebrated the 25th anniversary of' his accession to the throne, and his eldest son, the Duke of Sparta, has become betrothed to a sister of the German Emperor. Greebe is making quiet but per■ceptible progress. ' Her' finances' are in a 'satisfactory state ; her securities stand well in th? markets of the world ; brigandage has been restricted; law and order are fairly well established, and the people seem contented with their Goverment. Bulgaria is in a more disturbed state, and gives rise to more immediate anxiety than her neighbours. The reigning Prince, Ferdinand, has not yet been recognised by the Great Powers, and Russia is openly hostile to him. On the other hand, he seems to have become popular with his subjects, and has maintained his difficult position with spirit. His policy seems to be steadily to ! resist Russian influence, and to build up a free and independent nation, able to take care of itself. < The situation of these States is such that they may at any time become the theatre of a devastating war. On the other hand, it seems to be the objeot of the Great Powers generally to keep them quiet, to protect them in their growth to greater power and to so influence their policy as to prevent anything from taking place which would bring on a conflict, either between themselves' or between the greater Powers on either side of I them.—" Youth's Companion." • j