New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09

mite proposal to that effect The proposal was
that the new frontier should follow the valley Of
the Salambria al the east and that OF the Gala
mas al the west side Of the peninsula. This was
accented by the Congress. with the amendment
that the eastern part of the lire should be adj
vanced northward from the Salambria to Mount
Olympus: and II was decided that in the event
Of Greece and Turkey being unwilling to agree
TO the suggestion, the great Powers should offer
their mediation and all their influence for its
ACCEPTANCE Early in 1879 conference between
the representatives Of Turkey and Greece was
held at Prevesa 1t cam. to nothing for the
Greeks insisted upon an adoption OF the sugses-
tion of the Berlin Congress, and the Turks abso-
lutely refused it. An adjournment was there
fore made 10 COnstantinOple. later in the year,
where the commissioners sat for more than three
months. But this prolonged conference also end
ed in a deadlock. for exactly the same reascfs as
those which frustrated the la bors of the former
meeting. Then the Powers took hand in the
matter A conference was called at Berlin irl
1880 and the suggest ms Of the Congress of 1878
were reafirmed md enacted into imperative
order.
This was entirely acceptable to Greece. but
Turkey was still recacitrant. The Porte OBJ
jected to being compelled to make so sweeping
a cession OF territory. of lands belonging to
Albania as well as the whole of Thessaly; tina.
is to say the whole of the valley Of the Peneus.
with its slopes-a CessiOn which would con-
sist of annexing TO the Hellenic Kingdon
territory almost equal 10 half Of the actual
present area Of that kingdom But the amount
Of land not the sole nor the chief point.
The Turks objected that the proposed new
frontier would be difficult 10 defend from the
Turkish side. and easy TO defend from the Greek
side. II would make ii difficult for Turkey 20
invade Greece but comparatively easy for Greece
% invade Macedonia. Objection was also made to
the surrender of the city Of Janina. which the
Albanans, believing themselves, in imitation or
The other nationalities Of the empire, to be
distinct race, have from all time considered as
the actual capital Of Lower Albania, and to the
possession OF which they cling. as is well known.
with much obstinacy" Almost equal stress was
laid on the importance of retaining Larissa and
other points.
TO this the Powers replied peremptOrily that
their decree was final. and coulo not he recon-
sidered and. whether Turkey liked ii or not, the
rev frontier must be adopted and enforced. In
the face Of this. Turkey was still defiant and
rather than coerce that amiable Power the
great Powers promptly repudlated their own
order They agreed To- a reopeninS of the mat
ter and a reference Of ii 10 arbitration, and the
German Government was named as the arbi-
TRAITOR Germany and Austria-Hungary hob
nobbed together. and party OF Austrians went
over the ground 10 consider what should be
done Then they hobnobbed with Turkey. and,
for what consideration does not yet appear,
agreed 10 exactly the boundary line which Tur-
KEY wanted. with the single exception OF La
rissa which was awarded Greece Practi-
cally Turkey dehed the whole Of Europe and
had her own way.
The result mas been evident In this present
war The boundary line has afforded the Turks
every advantage for the invasion Of Greece,
and has made the defence OF Greece impos-
sible The victories of Edhem Pacha at Mi
louna Pass and Larissa were really won when
the Porte repudated the Berlin treaty, and
when the Powers assented to that reputation.
ate their own words. and imposed upon Greece
a frontier dictated by Turkey. 1t is now only
reasonable that Greece should demand OF the
powers atonerent for that fraud In fulflment
Of the boundary stipulations OF the Berlin
treaty. And it certainly is not 10 be wondered
at that when they admonish her or the sanctity
Of treaties Greece listens to them with some
amount Of scepticism.