The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-10-17
PLAN TO SETTLE
BALKAN DISPUTE
England, Russia and France
Agree on Programme.
MAKES EIGHT PROPOSALS
Independence of Bulgaria Is Recog-
nized and the international Confer
snce of the Powers Is to Fix Tur-
keys Compensatlon-Same Action
Is Taken Regarding the Annexation
of Crete to Greece.

London, Oct 15.-Great Britain,
Russia and France have reached an
agreement on programme to be sub
mitted to the other powers as a basis
for discussion by the proposed Euro
pean conference to settle the Balkan
situation. The proposals to be laid be-
fore the powers are eight in number.
The first is to the effect that art
icles 1 to 20 of the treaty of Berlin,
which relate to Bulgaria and Eastern
Roumelia, shall be replaced by stipu-
lations recognizing. the independence
of Bulgaria as at present constituted
and determining the financial obliga-
lions of Bulgaria toward Turkey. New
clauses probably will settle also the
question of the Oriental railway.
The second and third proposals are
that the powers shall take note of the
annexation by Austria-Hungary Of Bos-
MIA and Herzegovina and the return
of the sanjak of Novipazar to Turkey.
The fourth article relates to Crete.
It replaces article % of the treaty Of
Berlin by clauses recognizing the an
nexation of Crete to Greece and de-
termining the financial obligations of
Greece, in respect to Crete, toward
Turkey. 1t is understood that the four
powers under whose protection Crete
has been, Russia, Great Britain,
France and Italy, will settle the Gre
tan question in concert with Turkey
before referring it to the conference.
It is proposed also that the second
part of article % of the Berlin treaty,
which provides special regulations for
tho government of other parts of Euro
pean Turkey, shall cease to have force
when the powers are assured that a
Same Arrangement for Armenia.
The fifth proposal is to the effect
that arrangements similar to the above
shall apply to the Armenian provinces
Of Turkey. -
The sixth article deals with Monte
negro. The Montenegro rights of SOW
ereignty are limited by article 20 of
the treaty of Berlin. It is proposed
that articles 26 to 80 inclusive of the
Berlin treaty shall be condensed to a
single article abrogating all the re-
strictions imposed by the treaty under
the original article 20, which it is pro-
posed to sweep away.
The seventh point in the programme
is the statement that it is desirable to
seek and give compensation to Servia
and Montenegro by a rectifcation of
the Bosnian and Herzegovinian from
tiers adjoining Novipazar. This is
| taken to imply that strip will be
taken from the territory annexed by
Austria-Hungary.
The eighth proposal concerns the
river Danube and declares it is desir
| able to revise the regulations govern
ing Danube traffic SO as to give larger
rights to the states bordering on the
river
The eight articles of the programme
| are followed by declaration that as
the new Ottoman constitution fore
shadows a reorganization in conform
ity with the principles of other Euro
pean states the powers are prepared
to consider in concert with Turkey,
so soon as these reforms are realized,
the best means of doing away with
capitulations. 1t is declared also that
this occasion could be taken to con-
slider the abolition of the postoffi ces
now maintained by foreign powers in
Turkey.