The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-28
BULGARIA DECLARES HER
FREEDOM FROM TURKEY
Austria Annexes States, Nullify-
ing Treaty of Berlin.
ENGLAND STRONGLY HOSTILE
Prince Ferdinand Proclaimed Gar of
the Bulgarians With Simple But
Impressive Ceremony at Tirno-
yo, the Ancient Capital.

London. - The independence OF
Bulgaria was proclaimed in the an
cient capital of Tirnovo, with the
Car of the Bulgarians as ruler. Gar
of the Bulgarians is recognized to
mean more than Gar of Bulgaria,
because it is 4 distinct intimatlon
that he regards his country as having
sovereignty over all people of that
blood in the Near East. Within a
day or two Austria-Hungary, which
has been working with Prince Fer
dinand in this preconcerted plan, will
proclaim the new status OF Bosnia
and Herzegovina. The question,
which has been stirring the whole or
Europe more deeply than any similar
question in the memory of the pres
ent generation is, does it meaD war!
From all the capitals come reports
indicating that it means, first OF all,
another European congress OF d
signers of the Treaty of Berlin to
consider the situation and probably
revise the treaty. Turkey, caught in
a moment of weakness, Is the victim
of this situation, and while some lu-
ternational animosities have been
stirred up, probably no Power is will
Ing to make war. Reports from
emancipated Turkish press to Lon.
don indicate that the Young Turks
will swallow this bitter pill as best
they can and, if they do, naturally
the Bulgarians, while willing and
for war, will have no cause on
which to base the beginning of hos
~tilities.
From the British standpoint, h
whole affair has been A surprise, ana
more than a surprise, because Tor n
first time in years the British GoV-
eminent felt itself, with apparently a
perfect understanding with france
and Russia and complete friendship
with Italy, to be in a position where
it dominated European politics, re-
serving out of this consideration n
almost open enmity between ITSELF
and Germany.
Probably never in the history of
Europe has politics taken such amaz-
lngly kaleidoscope revolutions as
during the past week. An entangllng
situation will come when the sigma
tories of the Berlin treaty meet to
consider what action shall be taken
REGARDING the violations Of the treaty.
Great Britain has served notice
that it does not recognize the right
of any Of the parties to this treaty TO
violate it's provisions without consult
ing the others, but English diplomats
know that the conference will resolve
itself into a scramble among n
Powers to get what is termed in
European politics compromising ad-
vantages," which Austria, backed by
Germany, has already obtained.
The official statement, issued by
the British Foreign Office, says:
"His Majesty's Government cannot
admit the right Of any Power to alter
an international treaty without the
oSnsent of the other parties to it, and
it therefore refuses to sanction any
infraction of the Berlin treaty. and
declines to recognize what has been
done until the views of the other
Powers are known, especially those
of Turkey, which Is more directly
concerned than any one else"
The chances of wal between Bull
garia and Turkey are being minimized
by Great Britain and France, who
are working together and who have
advised Turkey against it. Turkey
apparently is disposed to follow this
advice, and it is believed that if hasty
action on the part of Turkey can be
prevented, Bulgaria will have diff
Guilty in finding an excuse to begin
war.