Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-06
[By Associated Press.l

lBy Associated tTeSS
II ARIS, Oct. 5.-France has essayed
the role of mediator with the OBJ
Il ject of preventing war between
Turkey and Bulgaria, and as a result
of Foreign Minister Pichon's series of
conferences today with the representa-
tives of the powers, including M. Is
wolsky, the Russian foreign minister;
Naoum Pascha, the Turkish ambassa-
dor to France. the Austro- Hungarian,
the British. the American and the
Italian ambassadors, and of active ex-
changes which have been going on be-
tween the various cabinets, 1t was an
nounced today that France, Great
Britain, Russia and possibly Italy were
prepared to act in unison to preserve
peace and to call conference of the
signatories of the Berlin treaty to deal
automatically with the situation that
has arisen between Turkey and Bull
garia, and to harmonize conflicting in
terests so that fresh complications may
be avoided
Already certain tentative PROPOSE
tions as a basis for such conferences
have been forwarded to Constanti-
nople, and if the porte's assent can be
secured it is regarded as certain that
peace will be maintained.
The nature of these propositions has
not been disclosed, but it is understood
that they involve the recognition of
Bulgaria's independence as a "fait ac-
compli."
Where Danger Lies
The danger of war is believed to lie
in precipitate action at Constantinople.
Forced by the Young Turks party,
which may fear a blow at it's prestige
if it acquiesced in the loss of Bulgaria,
and by the military party, which wants
to restore the old order of things, it is
feared that Turkey, although unpre
pared both from a financial and mill
tary standpoint, may proclaim war.
Should this be the case the efforts of
the powers will then be directed to lin
ting the war to Bulgaria and Turkey.
According to information received
here, Bulgaria would welcome war, as
the Bulgarians are convinced that their
army could march straight to Constan-
tinople before the Turkish forces could
be modified. The French govern
ment's communique issued today says:
"It is certain that France, Russia,
Great Britain and Italy Will do their
utmost to maintain peace in the east,
but it seems difficult at present to
judge what means will best attain this
end.
"All depends on what will happen at
Constantinople. and events which will
now rapidly ensue might shortly place
the powers in the presence of 'fait~ac-
compli,' and completely modify the as
pect of affairs.
Must Consult Turkey
"The idea of an international confer
ence charged with the duty of decid-
ing upon revision of the treaty of
Berlin would seem to be put forward
with a peculiar persistency in certain
political circles.
However, the disposition of Turkey
in that respect must be first ascer-
tanned.
'If Turkey is favorably inclined to
this it is believed that the powers can
easily reach an agreement on the prin-
ciple of a conference, the initiative
for which France. Great Britain and
Russia will take. But these are only
hypothesis. which for the present must
be regarded with reserve"
The view is now held here that there
has been a double move on the part
of Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary,
these two countries acting together.
and that Germany and Italy were ad-
vised of it in advance. Russia also re-
ceived intination of the plan, but M.
Iswolsky asserts that he was not let
fully into the secret and in some re-
spects was misled.