The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-14
1.-THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

1.-THE PEACE OF EUROPb,
| The Tribune has not at any tune
! shared in tho fear that the Balkan trou-
| bles would result in European war. We
| have not at any time believed that there
would be any fighting over the questions
involved, The startling thing, of course,
was the assumption Of independence by
| the Prince of Bulgaria but that was
chiefly of interest between Bulgaria and
| Turkey, and was not a matter OF any
| particular consequence to tho other ma
tions of Europe. As matter OF fact,
Ferdinand, Prince Of Bulgaria, who now
calls himself Gear Of tho Bulgars, has
been practically an independent ruler
ever since he came to the throne. There
were certain tributary services obliga-
tory upon him toward tho Sultan un'
der the provisions of the Treaty of Ber-
lin; but he has his own independent
army, his own civil administration,
these without any outside Interference,
and tho mere throwing off OF the tribu-
tary service is of no coucerr to any ez-
cept to those two countries. In fact,
Turkey loses little and Bulgaria gains
little by the change; certainly that
change was SO small as not to be worth
fighting about. The control of Turkey
over Bulgaria ceased or the signing of
the Treaty of Berlin, July l3, 1873, and
Turkeys overlordship has been practi-
cally fiction ever since.
AS to tho other alleged sensation, the
open absorption by Austria Of Bosnia
and Herzegovina, that was practically
understood by the congress at Berlin
IN the year named. An exhaustive in
vostisation by NJ. Hauotaux has re
Gently developed the fact that 70 other
result than that which had been effected
by Austria was expected at the time
Of that congress. We find summary
in the New York Evening Post of his
conclusions on this matter, these show
ing beyond any doubt that even Turkey
fully understood tho meaning of what
was done with respect to those two prov.
iucos at that time. The Post s summary
on this is as follows:
On the question OF the turning over OF
the administration Of Bosnia aud Herze-
govina 10 Austria, NJ Hanotaux.s re-
uon was 70 make a tnal severance OF
those provinces from Turkey. That was An
essential part of the plans or Bismarck.
! who dominated the Berlin Congress and
induced IL, as Mr.. HanotauX confesscs, 10
accept his views on all important points.
| What the Congress expected finally 20 be-
! come OF Bosnia. nowhere appears In the
Treaty OF Berlin nor in the protocols, but
! the plenipotoDtiarlcs could not have been
blind to the inevitable result The dele
gates from Turkey perceived IT, and made
. |
! administration which would mean ult-
lnately Austrian annexation. They in
duced the Italian plenipotentiary, Count
Cortl, TO interest himself in their behalf.
According To Carathcodory. Cort one day
rose In the Congress and asked Count An
Grassy what was the point OF view with
| which the Austrian Government would
| undertake the occupation of Bosnia and
! Herzegovina. Andrassy replied: Aus
trla has the European point of view. To
| that have nothing 20 add The Otto
man plcnipotentiaries knew what that
meant. They 'trcmbled" FOR the fate OF
the provinces. and finally got from Aus
an agreement might he made with Turkey
about the terms Of the occupation, I'M
mediately after tho closing of the Con-
gress." But as MIR. HanotauX saws, moth
Ing came Of this. lie adds: The finest
victory OF the whole campaign was won
by Austria, without drawing the sword
! without opening tho purse In spite of
Turkey, IN spite OF Russia, in spite Of
Italy"
1t would appear, then, that there is
really nothing to complain about on the
part of Turkey, or on the part Of any
| other European power, in the annexa-
tion Of Bosnia and Herzegovina; for this
was to be expected as the natural rc-
suit. And, further, that the proposed
congress of European powers 10 cou-
slider what has been done will have very
little to occupy its attention. II all
seems TO be very much of tempest in
| q teapot, or much ado about nothing
The actual accomp plishmept of what was
thoroughly understood to be inevitable,
when the arrangement made by tho Ber-
lin congress thirty years ago was per
fected, surely ought not TO have dis
turoed the world which should have been
Iully prepared for what was coming. II
was only forgetfulness of the facts and
the conclusions well matured and agreed
upon in 1873 that led any one to the
notion that something startling had been
done, and that war was likely to result
The roal trouble Will come when Gear
Ferdinand uuderstakes To absorb Scrvia,
which was unprovided Tor III the Berlin
! Treaty, as this new Car has shown
some disposition TO do. Evidently the
fear OF that was what startled Servia,
and put that little kingdom in a war
| fever on the assumption OF independence
by Bulgaria. Evidently Servia had an
idea that Fedinaud would invade that
country at once Bulgaria not MANY
years ago gave Servia a severe chastise-
ment, and can absorb that country
whenever the European nations permit
this TO be done, However, there is not
likely TO be anything of this kind for
/ a good many years, aud until tho pres.
cnt rawness has healed and been for
gotten