New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-14
GREAT BRITAIN ~ THE B4LK4NS,

Every DEVELOPMENT in the Balkans confirms
the estimate which was made some days ago by
orr London correspondent. that the British gov
eminent is acting in this momentous case III a
manner worthy Of its best traditions Amid all
The uncertainty and hesitancy of other powers
ar the moment Of Bulgaria'S prcSumptuous out
break and Austria EIungary's breach Of faith,
the one clear and definite pronOuncement was
mat Of Great Rritain-that lawlcssness was not
10 he condoned. even though it seemed to be an
ACCOMPLISHED fact and that ahrogation or
modification of an international treaty could be
recognized unless it was effected by the consent
If all the signatories. That was Sir Edward
Crews prompt and resoute determination, and
if was unwaveringy reafiirmed by Mr.. Asquith
at this weeks opening of Parliament 1T Is I'M
possible" said the Prime Minister. FOR this
country in the interests of existing treaties 10
recognize alterations made therein by individ-
"ual states and we hold to this principle
Now it is announced that the British gov
ernment after q further conference between
SIR Edward Grey and Mr.. Iswolsky, has
changed its front. and, instead Of insisting that
any conference of the powers over the Balkan
matter shall confine its attention strictly to the
iDfractions Of tn" Treaty of Berlin which have
lust been made. has accepted the Russian view
that il NAV properly consider the whole scope
OF that treaty. If that is really Il change Of at
titude il must be regarded as wise. congress
limited strictly to consideration Of Bugarias
bu1nptiousness and Austria Hungarys aggres-
sivrness would be so handicapped as to impair
fits practical utility. II would he able to do
nothing but approve or dlsapprove the acts in
question without adding any compensatory pro
visions It may be on the whole judicious to let
Bulgaria keep Eastern RumeIa and be indie
pendent of Turkey. but i'll such case Turkey
should surely have compensation It may be
best TO let Austria-iIungary keep the provinces
which she has seized. but then. too, Turkey
should have large compensation. But the pre-
scription of such compensation would require
more general revision of the Treaty Of Berlin
The supposition is that Great Britain at
first opposed to any general reopening of that
treaty-ff indeed she was, which is not sure
because she did not want her own continued Oc-
cupancy of Egypt discussed. and because she did
not want the DardanelIes to be opened to Rus
sian warships. The former reason may be dis
missed a once. since the Egyptian question has
absolutely nothing to do with the Treaty of Ber
lin. As to the DardaneIles, three things are to
be considered. One Is that Russia herself prob
ably does not want them opened now since to
open them TO her would be to open them to all
nations. and she would not relish the appearance
Of a powerful British. japanese or other feet
there while she has none Of her own in the
Black Sea worthy Of the name. The second is
that even if Russia wanted the straits opened
there is no certainty that the congress would
permit them To be And the third is that If the
straits were opened. there is no sure indication
that Great Britain's interests would thus be In
any way impaired menaced
No doubt 10 let Bulgaria and Austria Hungary
keep what they have Illegally taken would be to
permit the results of a crime 10 stand. But if
a suitable penalty were eXacted and compenca.
.n, i&.o4
might be preferable 10 the huge war which alone
would he able 10 compel the actual undoing OF
what has been done. 1t is gross arrogance for
Austria Hungary TO refuse 10 enter congress
unless she is permitted to retain her spos. But
| Ii might be better to grant her such permission