Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
THE DALKANSlTROUDLE.
War Clouds in the Direction
Of the Bosphorus.
INTEREST IN ENGLAND
BURDEN OF SETTLING DISPUTE
WOULD FALL ON HER.
Memory Of the Boer War is Strong and
Desire for Foreign Conquest is
Not Overpowering.
INTEREST IN ENGLAND
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

LONDON, February q, 1894.
Is the long-predicted trouble in the Bal
kons' close at hand? Public interest in the
Russo-Japanese conflict grows dim as war
clouds gather in the direction of the Bos-
phorus. The Sick Man grins sardonicaliy
at the continental war of words over a
proposed division of his empire. England
is at his back and his serenity is unruffied.
1t is John Bull who is walking the floor, so
to speak.
The people of England are now In sober
frame of mind over the situation in the far
and the near east, more especially the lat
ter. The beginning of the war between
Russia and Japan brought with it an out
burst of excited interest for an English
man would not be true to the traditions of
his people If he did not enjoy a scrap of
any kind. from a dog fight to battle royal
between the great powers. This interest in
far east affairs was, and is now, imper-
soral for, Notwithstanding England's COM
pact with Japan, her proximity to Russia's
possible ally, France, and her general ac-
tv1ty in all affairs of the eastern hemis-
phere, no real fear of becoming actually
involved has made itself felt.
Sympathy With japan.
The sympathy of the mass of the people
is with Japan. Her victories, greatly exag-
gerated by the press at first, brought cheers
and braves from the crowds on the streets
and in the galleries of the theaters. Russia
has found few friends even in the club
rooms where the cosmopolitan and we'll
informed Englishman is always ready to
discuss the merits of other nations, assum-
ing, first. of course, that England is pre-
mier and beyond all comparison
With all this enthusiasm for Japan many
English naval and military experts regard
the final triumph of Russia as more than
probable. This feeling extends into gov
eminent circles and the governing class
Wen dehned and earnest effort is being
made by serious writer's to overcome the
quite general feeling of confidence in ia
pans continued success for it is, after all,
with Russia England is concerned. To
warn, coax and treat with 1.-THE bear that
walks like a man" is an ever present fac
tor in British diplomacy
Japan, concentrated, alert and enthusi-
astic, struck quickly and effectively. The
bear WINGED and for the moment, startled
from a characteristic lethargy seemed
dazed. To underestimate the i,nmutability
OF the Russian empire, it's enormous re-
sources, tremendous resisting power, the
shreWdness and vigor of it's leaders and
their control over a semi barbaric people
would be folly and nowhere is this bet
ter known than among England's rulers
The bear is now aroused and is stretching
himself, the real struggle is yet to come.
England herself recalls her experience
with the Beers. The latter were ready,
quick and resourceful- They dealt their
powerful enemy blow after blow, but sheer
weight carried the day in the end, and it
is upon this theory that England expects
Russia to win eventually To restrain the
territorial greed of the conqueror, to pre-
vent her old-time enemy from encroaching
upon extensively acquired, treaty rights
and protectorates is a matter already I'M
der careful consideration, and one to which
the British government officials are devot-
ing much anxious thought and diplomacy
Peace of Europe Involved.
While productive of great anxieties and
many dangers, an actual state of war be-
tween Russia and Japan is not nearly of
so much consequence and importance to
England as a disturbance in the status
quo of affairs between Turkey, Greece Bull
garia, Macedonia and Servia In this lat
ter situation is involved the peace of ali
Europe, and continuance of the more
or less amicable division of authority
among the European powers over the af-'7
fairs of that section.
AS was inevitable, the engagement of Rus
STA in another direction Immediately pre-
scented an opportunity for Bulgaria to make
war upon the Turks. In times of general
peace Russia's sympathy with Turkey. in
spired of course, by purely selfish motives
would make a Bulgarian revolution a hope
less effort In the proposed division of the
Turkish Empire, expected some time in the
future, Russia lays claim to Bulgaria and
it suits her better that Bulgaria should re-
main part of the Turks dominion than
that new and independent state should
come into existence. In these modern days
the world does not regard with favorable
eye the obliteration of republics by mon
arches. Greece, also with eye to the
future, prefers that Macedonia should re-
main as at present for that state Is looked
upon a san integral part of Greek douiin-
ions, to fall into its rightful place when
Turkey is dismembered. Turkey would thus
find an ally in Greece in the attempt of the
former to retain control over her territory
in Europe.
The situation has been best expressed by
a diplomat long stationed at Constautinople
who said recently that war in the Balkans
which might amount to the dignity of a ma
tional conflict would simply mean that each
political division would be fighting for itself
without much idea of what was to be the
outcome. In this situation on the Bosphor-
US, Autsria, Italy, Greece Turkey, Russia
and England are deeply concerned for these
turbulent little states in the Balkans are
sort of neutral ground representing that
portion OF the continent where the great
powers have as yet left the spoils undivided
1t is hardly a state of armed neutrality
but a condition in which by mutual agree
mept controversial matters are left undis-
turbed.
Burden Would Fall on England.
successful revolution in Bulgaria, Mace
donia or Servia would call for interference
on the part of Europe as a whole; and
England holding the place of dean in Euro
pean diplomacy, would bear the larger part
of the burden in settling the affair upon a
peaceful basis. tgsw
News from the far east reaches London
very slowly, and in a. most unsatisfactory
condition. The censorship over the cables
is very strict; the malls take many days in
finding their way from the scene of action
to the newspaper offices and by the time
an accurate account; of AN event is re-
ceived the public mind is so confused as to
render 1t almost valueless except to the
naval or military experts. London is in
close touch, however, with the affairs of
Turkey and other states, in that part of
Europe. There are numerous outlets for
kilograms and letters. where the censor
plays no part in their dispatch, and the
business Of crossing the border with news
for London is a wellrec0gnized industry
From a business point Of view the Lon
don newspapers would rejoice at transfer
of public interest from the far east to
the near east. From a national point of
view few things could happen at this
particular time which would give English
statesmen deeper or graver concern. The
Russo Japanese war would fade In interest
to a degree almost incomprehensible to
the American with his newly aroused inter-
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