THE BALKANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 19

THE BALKANS.

MONTENB&RO ADVOCATES HOLY WAR. ' BULGARIA'S WARLIKE ATTITLDE. LONDON, October 12. The Daily Teterjra-ph comments on- what it terms Baron Aehrentlißl's extraordinary statement, while The Times declares that the principle laid dowii is a dangerous one, adding that Austria had signed so many treaties against her will. ' Mr Asquith, speaking at Leeds, claimed that the whole nation approved of the Government's jMjlicy in the Near East. October 13. The Times' Paris correspondent shows that the convention of 1879 declared that the occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina did not affect Turkey's sovereignty there. The German newspapers scathingly criticise Baron AoLrenthpJ The Tunes' Berlin <x>rrespoudent asks whether Baron Aehrenthal has been selected as the scapegoat or. ,'as a peaceoffering on the altar of Turko-German friendship. Mr Aequith etatedr in the House of Commons that the Government considered rhat 'the emote in the Balkans necessitate the Powers' consideration •pSt-h- a view lo arriving, at a settlement showing due regard to the interests- of Turkey or any State which the recent ch&agvA might have prejudiced. The 'Jcovcrnai-cnt wo'a'.d strive to secure a srttjsuwsit vrltich would bo both peaceful and eqisii-abi-e. •Mr Ae^oith added that a conference had not yet been arranged. The Powers •Were discussing how a settlement could b© attained, and what would be comprised therein. He hoped that thoee aggrieved would continue an * attitude of moderation and restraint, relying on a general desire to show fair consideration for their interests. — (Cheers.) JSord Lansdowne, speakin? in the House of Lords, warmly endorsed Sit E Grey's cool Bpeech. He said tlie one desire of th» Ojvpositii'Mi was to strengthen the lisrxLs of vius Ccverimiieat in maintaining international law and peace. Lord Fitznaavirice said the united nation believed that diplomacy would be able to secure the maintenance of Turkey's im4 proved institutions and simultaneously " maintain, the goodwill oi the minor Balkan States. Soaod d the London newspapers fear that the reference as quoted to Che States claiming 'to be prejudiced involves a daEgerou&ly wide opening of the door to eomp^issatioas, and is practically a new t'^pisrter*. after tba Austro-Hungoriaji declaration that. Turkey alon-3 is entitled 1 to c^apeTisat-ion. * fteuter's Constantinople , correspondent spates that Germany and Italy have declared that treaties cannot, be modified without the assent of all the signatories. October 14. The Times says that Britain's attitude ■will doubtless bo that- th« fewer the points submitted for debate t-Le better. She will be no party to\ the r.draisisicn of any demands for compensation at Turkey's expense to which Turk-ay objects. franca and Russia, recognke the justice and expediency of this at? nd point. According to lifiu'^v, tho in-denuiiii-.'a-tiou to Turkey lies in regularising urA legalising Austria's and Bulgaria's aots as accomplished facts. It is expected to take the form of a guaranteed Turkish loan. 'The guests at Sir E. Grey's banquet in, honour of M. Isvolsky in-eluded Mi Asquith and the chief Ministers, Mr B.ilfour, Lord Lansdowue, Lord Londonderry, Lord Salisbury, Mr Austen Chamberlain, and Mr Lytbaßon. Reuter advises that M. Standoff, th« Bulgarian Agent at Paris, has declared that the summoning and maintenance oi the reserves will be most costly. Thej must either be dismissed or utilised. -' . October 15. The Times states that Britain, France. and Russia are prepared to attend a conference as disinterested Powers. ,The Dardanelles question will not be raised, but will be reserved for future irienddy adjustment. M. Isvolsky is in complete agreement ■witfli Britain and France in regard tc compensation for Servia, Turkey, ami Montenegro. Advices from Belgrade state that Servia

asks as cornpsn&a/tion an international tjuarantee of tba integrity of her territory, j Austria declines to attend the projected J conference Jinless the annexation, of i Bosnia and Herzegovina is accepted as an j accomplished fact,, and legalised without • any discussion. Germany and Austria have intimated * to Bulgaria that she must obtain the Porte's consent before negotiating with 4 the Orient Railway Company. They also * state that the recognition of lier independence is dependent on a satisfactory settlement of the company's claim ; October 16. ' The Porte, in a circular to the Amba£6ador3 abroad regarding the military ' activity in Bulgaria, reiterates Turkey's pacific intentions, an«i adds that should Bulgaria persist in her present attitude Turkey will reluctantly be compelled to take precautionary measures, and would decline- responsibility in the event of a conflict occurring. The following announcements have been agreed upon between Sir E. Grey and M. Isvolsky, and have been issued by the Foreign Office : — * t The exchange of views between M. I Isvoieky and Sir £. Grey led to a complete agreement regarding the Near ! East. They agreed that a conference was * ! necessary, but to ensure its success — . reaffirming respect for the law of nations • and making reparation to- those injured, ! — the conference- should ba limited in I scope and should deal exclusively with' questions arising out of violations of ! the Treaty of Berlin. The first object of the conference should be compensation to Turkey. On this point there seems to be a general agreement among the Powers. Provision must also be made for effectively strengthening the present regime in Turkey, which atfowis the best safeguard for_ the 1 maintenance of peace. Likewise it is j hoped that means will be found to meet the rea^onaßle wishes the smaller j Balkan States, but cot at Turkey's j expense. There is good reason to believe that the Cretan question can be satisfactorily dealt with, although p:*oi visionally excluded from the scope of I t!*2 conference as being in the first ' instance a question for discussion between Turk-ay and the protecting Power. It is hoped that the moderation, reasonableness, and disinterestedness of the&9 views will commend th-em to the signatories. It was not intended to submit the question of the Dardanelles Straits to the conference, it Ivlng a question wherein Russia and Turkey are primarily concerned. There is no desire on Russia's part to settle it in any sense hostile to Turkey or to seek for compensation, inasmuch as Russia enters the conference as one of the disinterested Powers. It was finally declared that the subjects arising under the Anglo-Russian -Convention had been reviewed, and that the discussion proved the identity of the views of the two Ministers, which promised a continuance of the cordial and harmonious co-operation of the two Governments in the settlement of the Central Asian question. The Times, commenting on Russia's abnegation and self-ieslraint, says it is '■ profoundly gratifying lo find ourselves ?'dc by b-ido with the new Russia in championing the rights of the new Turkey." M. Is\olsky has kit Loi.don on a visit , to Pails and Berlin. • October 18. : While Constantinople telegrams declare I that the reported mobilisation is un- ! founded, probably arising out of an exchange of troops between Constantinople and Adrianoplc, tbr Turkish Amb.-.sspdov , at Paris states that the mobilisation was true up to Saturday morning, but that it was abandoned on Saturday nighi after Bulgaria had given assurances producing : a marked amelioration in the situation in . i the interests of peace. Reuter's Constantinople correspondent reports that Tewfik Pasha- has informed the editor of the newspaper Tanin that Turkey d-esired a conference to consider , the question of the independence of Bulgaria, the Austrian annexation of i Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Ottoman public > ' debt, and the integrity of the Ottoman : Empire. Turkey excluded the question | f Crete. Tewfik Pasha added that the . retrocession of Novi Bazar was conditional > on neither Servia nor Montenegro obtain- [ ing territorial compensation there. Austria has guaranteed Turkey's pesse&sion of 2&uu B&zaxy

An unautherrtica-ied vercdon of the programme of the proposed conference published at Paris has excited a bitter feeling at Ccmstaatiaople, owing to the impression that Sir Edward Grey has not euffieiectlj safeguarded Turkish interests. The- Turks are disposed to turn to Germany. The Times declares that the fate of the •conference seems "to Teally rest with tlie decision of Austria-Hungary and Germany. PARIS, October 15. The leading French newspapers support Russian wishes in reference to the Dardanelles, and suggest that a good solution will be to leave the passage open in times of peace and to close it in war time, if Turkey so desires. The Temps reproaches England for pillaging Turkey in tbs past by taking ' Cyprus and Egypt from her. I October 16. M. Pichon, on being interviewed, said the Balkan question must be solved by the unanimous, equitable, and cordial agreement of Europe. The Anglo-Russo- ; French understanding was closer than ever. October 17. The Turkish Ambassedor in Paris looks upon . the prograaniTce unfavourably. He says 'lie is disappointed at Britain's and France's sympathy, and considers the compensation illusory. October 18. President Fallieres and M. Pichon had an interview with M. Isvolsky, the Russian Foreign Minister. BERLIN, October 12. The Freindeblatt, in an inspired article, states that Germany, Russia, and Austria secretly agreed in 1881 that Austria was to be at liberty to take Bosnia and xierzegovina whenever it was convenient for her to do 60. October 17. A semi-official communique, issued in Berlin, indicates that Germany will adopt a cool, waiting attitude regarding th>3 proposed conference, pending Turkey's and Austria's acceptance of the programme. The Austrian and German press ridicules the idea of Servia and Montenegro being compensated at Austria's expense. The Kaiser lias congratulated tho Emperor of Austria upon the eitccct-i-ful annexations, and has promised him his support. VIENNA, October 12. Baron Aehrenthal (Auetro-Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs) contends that the secret Ar.dr.isry agreement, was virtually annulled by the Cone.tarAin.oplo Convention of 21st April, 1879, which did not mention a provisional occupation. He aUo says -that the secret agreement of 1878 was signed against Austria's will 1 , because Turkey wanted to break up the- congress at th« last moment, and Count Andraesy thought that occupation of tfco two •provinces would alone suflke for the immediate future. October 18. , The Viennese press angrily protests against the idea of compensating Servla and Montenegro. The majority of the papers suggest that Austria should not be represented at the conference of the Powers unless the compansattion clause is abrogated. Austria is massing troops close to the Bout'hem frontier of Montenegro. ROME, October 14. Signor Tittoni hujF informed the British. Russian, and Ai'&tricin .\inL>arsado:*s that the moment Britain law Russia issue an invitation to a European Conference Italy will unieservedly accept it, desiring to solve tlie various Balkan questions in accordance with the rpirit, of the treaties and wltl-out <n-j*.r.Er°"ir^ peace. :<T. PLrrp>£UßG, October 14. A Russian note to Servia and Montenegro promises to safeguard their interests. October 15. The Novoe Vremya rxlvocatc.3 a Balkan federation under the regenerated Turkish hegemony, as the 1 ?ifc defence of Balkan interests against future Aus'ilan attacks. ATHENS, October 13. The Cretans at At liens ar<J Piraeus have petitioned the Powers acking for sanction for Crete's union with Greece. BELGRADE, October 13. The Narodna-Skuptschina'e alleged vots against war 'was deliberately circulated by the Servian Government on Sunday in order to allay tb-s warlike excitement in the streets The Narodna-Skuptschina unanimously gave the Government a free hand to safeguard Servian, interests, and voted

16,000,000 francs to make the army j efficient. ] The Government is strengthened in its rezolve to pursue a pacific policy. It has rebuked the Crown Prince for his utterances. ) October 14. Bulgaria shows signs of wishing for an early recognition of her independence. October 15. J The military party in Bulgaria is get- . ting the upper hand. M. MaJinoff (the Premier) states that if Europe exacts a ransom as the price of Bulgaria's independence she will prefer to fight. , « SOFIA, October 13. | King Ferdinand had ' a great reception air Sofia. CETTINJE, October 15. I The Montenegrin Parliament at a secret eitting voted all the Government's requests for war supplies. Prince Nicholas, in receiving his deputies, said that Austria's action had 1 inflicted a great wrong, and nniess peace- ' ful endeavours were made to- set. matters right the Montsaieigrins would sacrifice their last drop of blocd. October 15. T^he Montenegrin Parliament, in responge to the Na-nodna-SkuptsChina's greetings and an anti- Austrian mefsw^e, invites Servia's co-operation in a holy war. CONSTANTINOPLE, October 13. I It is stated in Constantinople that j Austria's attitude regarding the confer- ' ence is still undecided, but there ie some reason to believe that she will eventually t accept the Powers' decision under certain reservations, j October 14. ! The Ambassadors of five Powers have j informed the Porte that they are favouri able to t'ae principle of a conference. The Porte intends to propose a strictly limited programme. A mob at Shabats burnt an Austrian merchantman's' fia^. The ringleaders were arreeted. The population is rigorously ' boycotting the Austrian Consul. '• A meeting of 20,000 people at Stamboul denounced Austria and Bulgaria, and thanked Brita : n, France, Italy, , Russia, and Germany for their friendly attitude. j There is a serious boycott of Austrian goods throughout Turkey. The dockers and boatmen at the various ports are refusing to work for the Austrian-Lloyd's steamers, and the services are paralysed. The steamer Galicia left Constantinople without a single passenger or an article of freight. The Turkish residents in Macedonia are uneasy over the concentration of Bulgarian troops near Kratova, and fear an j attempt will be made to annex Macedonia. The Bulgarians in Macedonia are diligently drilling and arming, with a view to creating a diversion in the event of Bulgaria declaring war. October 16. A leading member of the Young Turkey i movement, declares thoit the programme eet forth for the consideration of the Conference is not acceptable. The compensation offered to Turkey, he declares, is illusory. The Turkish boycott is paralysing Austrian commerce. Thirty Austrian Lloyd's steamers are vnible to load or unload. Turks, Albanians, aryl Greeks, and even gipsies, are all actively hoatile to Austria. October 17. Bulgaria, replying to Germany and Austria, has declined to seek Turkey's i consent to railway negotiations. She has a:>aiii informed the Powers of her pacific disposition. I Tueitv c-xp-rienoed gendarmerie officers in Fnlonica havo been sumnioTied to Constantinople to <lo police dntv owing to the untriifitworthine.-ft of the Yildiz troops on i the occasion of the lynching of the gardener and to preven/i the recurrence of disorder. j October 18. ' There are persistent reports that Turkey 1 is mobilising an army corps in Anatolia, with a view to resisting the demands made by Bulgaria in regard to tlie Orient railway. CALCUTTA, October 15. i Many Molieinnaedan meetings in India i thanked Britain for her attitude in the ' Balkan crisis. I — —

I Printing from movable type was known , in Korea over a century' before the invention of the art in Europe.