THE BALKANS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13736, 28 October 1908, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

SERVIAN ISLAND OCCTPIEO.

Press Assdciation-B v Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, Oct. 26. A Belgrade mo-wage states that Austrian soldiers have oci-up'ed the Seirati island ol lit-, --ina, in tie River Drin. SCCfiESTEI) CONFERENCE. ■THE-PORTE'S REPLY. CONSTANTINOPLE. Oct. 26. Kiamil Pasha has reqwt'ted to advise Austria to . accept the suggestion for a cnfeivnee. The Porte'ts reply i<» the inquiries of ISi'itaisi. France, and Ru..>.ia. awaits the Si:):.ui':: approval nexi Saturday after "the Ft as: of Hainan, and will t hen communicated. The Sultan aieepts as i;ulij.cts for the consider.! Poll of tlie- conference tin- M.-i>tr.u of P.Klg.uia. Bosnia, and Herzegovina. • and the compensation, duo owing i«> :Jie alterations in status; but t!i- Porte asks the s'.t Powers to guarantee Turkey again-1 any further aggression, and is ready to hm-U:u the modifies- - lion of capitulations. 'file Cretan question, if ii arisft:, is reserved for "discussion between the Porte and the protecting Powers exclusively. The reply adds tha* Strvia's and Montenegro's claims to territor'al compensation do' not concern Turkey, which leaves the discussion to Anslria and her aggrieved neighbours. STATEiIENT BY GERMANY. Re.-eived 10.58 p.m.. October 27th. BERLIN. -October 27. It ii; semiofficially■ announced at' Berlin that Oernianv and .Russia are-at" one in recognising that the conference- would be useful only if all the i.igniiflies' :o he Berlin Treaty were jireviofely 'n full agreement regarding the- scope and con'tents of tlie programme. The statement I adds that Germany cannot assent to any proposals whereto Austria-Hungary raiser, objection. These point* should form the subject of further negotiation;. On the o*lK-r hand. Germany agrees to other points of the draft scheme which was elaborated as the result of M. Iswols-ky's negotiatioiu; in London and Paris, particularly for arrangements of intervi-t so far zc. Turkey is concerned. CLEARING THE AIR. LONDON. October 27. Sir E. Grey has authorised the following statement : —"The reports in the Austrian Tress that the interruption of direct negotiations between Tutkry and Austria are due to Britain's advice and influence, are totally without foundation. . Throughout the negotiation; Britain's vbw war. that a direct''arrangement between Turkey and Austria, 'if satisfactory 1o Turkey, would smooth tlm way to a general settlement, but it is for Turkey to decide whether the proposals mad-e were acceptable, -as she was th" best judg? of her own interests." AUSTRIA IS \WLLINO. CONSTANTINOPLE. Ort. 27. It is stated in Corr.iantinople that- Austria is willing to accept the Porte's verbal assurance 'that Turkey shall recognise ihe annexations, and nor raise n discussion thereon at the conference.