New-York tribune., 1908-10-08
BRITAIN As PROTECTOR.
Il Plan Which May Supplant Ger
mann an Turkey.

London. Oct THE Foreign Office, in a
statement to-day says:
Reports Of the adhesion of any power TO the
proposed international conference are premature.
Great Britain does not desire such a conference;
she would much prefer that the question be
settled without reference to the representatives
of the powers. and she IS thus advising Turkey.
IF this, however, is found impossible, Great
Rrftan's next step will be TO her best offices
10 limit the scope Of the conference so as to
protect the interests of Turkey
The British government. replying to-day TO
the notification Of a-Hungary's intentions
regarding the provinces of Bosnia and Herze-
govina made practically the same reply IT did
to Bulgaria when informed of that country s
declaration of independence and the British Am
bassador at Vienna has been instructed to urge
on the Austro- Hungarian government the neces-
sity Of reconsidering its action.
The attention Of the Austro- Hungarian For
eign Office has been called to the protocol Of
January II 1871, which IS attached to the
Treaty of London of 1871. to which Austria
Hungary adhered. In this protocol it is laid
down that no power could break its treaty en-
gagenents or modify the stipulations Of the
treaty without entering into friendly agreement
with the contracting powers and obtaining their
assent The British government therefore
titles to the tro-Hungartan government that
IT is unab BILE to sanction any infraction of the
ITeHIV
thereof without previous consultation with the
other powers and in this case especially with
Turkey.
SIR Edward Grey. the Foreign Secretary, in
an address to-day before his constituents at
Wooler, Northum berand, with reference TO the
Near East repeated the terms Of the British
note He hoped and believed that nothing had
happened thus far that would lead TO a breach
Of the peace. If it became the practice Of any
power at will abruptly TO violate treaties pub
lie confidence would be undermined. There was
a risk however that what had already occurred
would lead TO further questions which would
entail complications.
The feeling is growing IN Europe" said the
Foreign Secretary. that armaments should be
diminished. but cannot expect to see expen-
ditures upon armaments decrease If people live
under the apprehension that treaties can be
suddenly altered without the consent Of all the
powers who parties TO them. In the present
case II would be very desirable to lose no time
In assuring Turkey that in any revision of the
Berlin Treaty the interests and status of Tur-
KEY will receive fun consideration
I'VE honestly desire to see things so fairly
guided that the result Of any changes may not
be to discourage but 70 give support to the
new government in Turkey and we shall use
our influence To that end. 1t is desirable 10
bear in mind that any sighting Of the new
regime in Turkey may give military direction
TO a move that is peaceful. II might i'm
peril all reforms in Turkey and might plunge
Macedonia and Armenia back into that deplora-
BILE state which they in a short time ago
The material and practical changes which
have been made In the last few days are not so
great. Bulgaria has declared her independence.
but she had autonomy before. and the differ
ence between autonomy and independence is not
great from a practical point OF view Bosnia
and Herzegovina were under Austrian admins
tration before. The fact that Austria has now