THE LULL IN THE BALKANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3078, 24 December 1908, Page 4

THE LULL IN THE BALKANS.

Gradually the fires of international excitement that have been blazing under the Balkan cauldron seem to be dying down, and only an occasional splutter from the Montenegrin and Servian end indicates that there is still a possibility of-the flame reviving. Montenegro has begun to talk about attacking the enemy with a loaded tariff, instead of with loaded artillery, and even the hot-headed Serb, who was soundly beaten by Turkey in 1876, has apparently little stomach for a fight with Austria. The cable reported recently that Austria proposed to assist Turkey financially in her projects for railway construction, and if Austria chooses to let the compensation which she must pay for the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina take the form of a loan, it is quite likely that the offer will be welcomed by Turkey. Financial assistance for railway construction and developmental work, pending the re-organisation of her army, is what Turkey chiefly wants at the present time. She certainly does not wane war, which would imperil her newfound liberty, and play into the hands of the reactionaries, who still hope against hope that the Sultan will turn and rend those who deprived him of his absolute powers. The Balkan Conference is still included in the international orders of the day, but this at least is certain, that if it is ever held at all the main issues will all have been thrashed out beforehand by the different Powers represented.