Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-10-08
France and England Have Like
Iy Warded II OF.
CONDEMN PRINCE FERDINAND.
Governments and Press of Europe
Think He Did Wrong In Declaring
independence Of Bulgaria-Great
Britain Will Attempt to Hold Pow.
ers to Berlin Treaty

In the ancient capital OF
Tirnovo, the independence of Bull.
garia was proclaimed Monday with
the car of the Bulgarians as a ruler
Car of the Bulgarians is recognized
10 mean more than czar of Bulgaria,
because il is a distinct intimation that
he regards his country as having SOW
ereignty over all the people OF that
blood in the near east
Within day or two Austria-H Hun
gary, which has been working with
Prince Ferdinand in this preconcerted
plan, will proclaim the new status OF
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The question which has been stir
ring the whole of Europe more deeply
than any similar question in the mem
DRY of the present generation is, does
il mean war? From all the capitals
come reports indicating that It means
| first of all another European congress
of the signers OF the treaty of Berlin
! to consider the situation and probably
revise the treaty Turkey, caught in
q moment Of weakness, 10 the victim
of this situation, and, while some in
ternational animosities have been
stirred up, probably no power is will
ing TO make war.
Reports from the emancipated Turk
ish press to London indicate that the
Young Turks" will swallow this bit
do, naturally the Bulgarians, while
willing and eager for war. will have
no cause on which to base the begin
ming OF hostilities.
From the British standpoint the
whole affair has been a surprise. and
more than a surprise, because for the
first time in years the British govern
ment felt itself, with apparently a per-
feet understanding with France and
Russian and complete friendship with
Italy, TO be in a position where it dom
mated European politics, reserving
out OF this consideration the almost
enmity between itself and Germany.
Probably never in the history OF
Europe nave politics taken such amaz-
ingly Kaleidoscope revolutions as dur
ing the past week. An entangling sit
uation will come when the signatories
OF the Berlin treaty meet to consider
what action shall be taken regard
ing the violations of the treaty.
Great Britain last night served no
tice that ii does no recognize the right
of any OF the parties TO this treaty
To violate is provisions without con-
sulting the others, but English dip
lomats know that the conference will
resolve itself into a scramble among
the powers to get what is termed in
European politics "compensating ad-
vantages." which Austria, backed by
Germany, has already obtained. The
official statement issued by the Brit
ish foreign Office says
This majesty's government cannot
admit the right of any power to alter
an international treaty without the
consent of the other parties to IL, and
II therefore refuses to sanction any in
fraction OF the Berlin treatysand de
clines TO recognize what has been
done until the views OF tho other pow
ers are known, especially those OF
Turkey, which is more directly con-
oerned than any one else
London. Oct. 6.-Chances OF war be-
tween Bulgaria and Turkey are being
minimized by England and France, who
are working together and who have ad-
vised Turkey against it, Turkey ap-
parently is disposed to follow this ad-
vice. and II is believed that IL hasty
action on the part of Turkey can be
prevented. Bulgaria will have diff
Guilty in finding an excuse to begin
war.
The action of Prince Ferdinand in
affirming the independence OF Bulgaria
is condemned by the governments and
press OF Europe, but in some quarters
this is considered a matter of minor
Importance, so long as it does not
eventuate in war as compared with
the threatened annexation of the
provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
by Austria-Hungary. Reports from
Belgrade indicate that Servia has been
aroused to the danger point. bands OF
Servians marching the streets OF Bel
grade and shouting for war with Aus
tria rather than annexation.