Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-17
fluence to the Aegean sea and furnishes
the connecting link for the Bagdad ran

fluence to the Aegean sea and furnishes
the connecting link for the Bagdao ran
way with Asia Minor.
4 Danube Adriatic line would in a
measure restore equilibrium between the
-Austro-German and the Siav economic III
fiuences in the Balkans by opening up an
unlimited market for Russian OIL enaDunE
Rumapia and Bulgaria to be more 1nde-
pendent of the Dardanelles. giving A.
bania and Servia another outlet. IN aoul-
ton to furnishing European commerce. es-
pecially Italian commerce. with ne"
gateway into the Balkans.
ROME. February 1.-THE sultan is
rubbing his hands" said an ambassador of
one of the leading powers In explaining
that the only country TO profit by the
breaking up OF the European understand
ing in the Balkans would be Turkey
Meanwhile Russia and France. II is I'M
derstood here are active in their en-
deavOrs to further the projected Adrfatic-
Black Sea railway to counterbalance Aus
tria's plans.
Cablegrams on the Balkan situation and
tho North Sea treaty questioning Ger
many's sincerity, were called to the at
tention of Baron Won Sternburg. the Ger
man amba ssador. He declared the state
ments made IL appear If Germany IS
creating trouble IN Europe by refusing to
adhere to the "Muerzsteger program.
and even limited at the existence of Sc
tret treaty between Germany, Austria anu
Turkey. He said:
These statements are absolutely false
and unfoUnded. no such treaty has ever
been concluded. On the contrary. Ger
many will give her full assistance to any
steps taken by Austria and Russia in aC-
cordance with the 'Muerzsteger program.
The German government further agrees
in principle-with the judicial reform ia
vored by England. and has directed her
representative at ConstantinOple to sign a
n u ix-n nf f, 10 nnrto
With regard to the railway concessions
In the Balkans, a question started eXclu-
sively by the Austrian government Ger
many is doing her best to relieve the ten
sion between Austria end Russia and has
done SO with every promise of success.
Germany considers the extension of the
railway system i'm the Balkans most
important factor in aiding the progress of
civilization in parts of the globe where
II is especially needed.
The treaty granting the territorial in
tegrity of Norway has likewise given rise
10 similar publications totally misrepre-
sentins the attitude of Germany with re-
Sard to the North sea
In suggesting agreement on this
subject Germany laid special Importance
on the participation of Holland as the
idea of an annexation of Holland by Ger
many has also recently been spread by a
portion of the western European press.
The Dutch government has taken part in
the negotiations from the very beginning
and has expressed its high appreciation
with regard to the German proposal.
As far as Belgium IS concerned the in
tentions OF Germany in the North sea give
rise to TO suspicion whatever at Brus-
sells. Former treaties of integrity are
sufficient proof of Germany's clear and
peaceful policy with regard to Belgium
Hence in the United States not the sight
est suspicion is noticeable as to the atti-
tude of Germany in the North sea oues-
ton"