THE BALKANS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13766, 30 November 1908, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

MONTEXEGRIN FORTS. Pros? Association-By Telegraph-Copyright Received S p.m.. Nov. 29th. LONDON.. Nor. 28. Montenegro has mounted a scries of heavy batteries on Mount Loochct, dominating Cattaro. A COSTLY BOYCOTT. The Turkish boycott cost AustriaHungary two millions sterling in sugar and clothing alone. TALK OF ANNEXATIONS. Received -LIS p.m.. Nov. 29th. PARIS, Nov. 29. Dr. Wekcrle. Hungarian Finance Minister, interviewed by the ''Matin/' said that Austria would be compelled to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina, because if Servia acquired these provinces she would create a great and dangerous state around Austria. This is interpreted to mean that Austria's designs on Macedonia would be thereby blocked. The "Mail's" Paris correspondent says that Russia : will refuse to join the conference if the questions of Bosnia and Herzegovina are excluded and compensation to the minor States refused. The -'Times*" Berlin correspondent states that Germany is confining her efforts to supporting Austria .in obtaining a cessation of the boycott, and urging that a conference would be useless. AUSTRIA AND TURKEY. The "Times'" Constantinople correspondent quotes from the Grand Vizier's organ, the "Yeni Gazette," Baron Aehrenthnl's conversation with a Charge d'Affaires at Vienna. He said lie had assured Reshad Bey that Austria entertained friendly feelings towards Turkey, and had proved those feeliims under the old regime, when he opposed, with his utmost energy, the hostile policy of Britain and Russia, who desired to detach Macedonia I from the Empire. More lately Austria was animated by the same senti- [ ments in her negotiations with Cou- [ stantinople, but the Austrian Ambas- ' sador's friendly proposals were not favourably revived, and the negotiations were ruptured. Reshad replied in general terms that he hoped for a conciliatory settlement. Achrenthal rejoined that his constant efforts in that direction had been fruitless. Austria wished to be friends with Turkey, but could also be an enemy. He added that if the Porte assumed a hostile attitude towards Austria, it would find itself always confronted by him. The request of Herr Pallavicini, the Ambassador, for- leave of absence, would be granted when assured that negotiations were certain to fail. The "Times" says that Baron Whrcnthal's language is menacing to tin' peace of Europe, and that there is nothing in Turkey's atttitude to justify its extraordinary tone. The negotiations were ended because Austria demanded a cessation of the boycott as a preliminary to the continuance of negotiations. VIENNA, Nov. 28. The Austrian Press attribute Turkey's obstinacy to British encouragement. Austria urged France to exert her friendly offices at Stamboul to terminate the boycott, and M. Pichon replied that he must abstain from intervention.