New-York tribune., 1909-04-04
Z. S. AVOIDED
HUMILIATION
no HIND IN BALKANS
SETTLEMENT.
Has Gained in Prestige and Policy
by Silence IN European
Crisis.

rcopyrigtt. 1909. by the Brentwood Companyl
Tomorrow exactly six months will have
slapsed since Prince Ferdinand proclaimed him
self Gar of Bulgaria, this action on his part
heing coincident with the announcement py
Faueror Francis Joseph of his decision TO trans
form his military and administrative occupation
;. The non,inallv Turkish provinces of Herze-
eovina and Bosnia which had lasted for thirty
years into formal annexation They have
-, n very eventful six months. Much has
..l,ab mace during that period Austria, after
,o,.inp ever since the downfall Of the great
chancellor Prince Metternich- more than sixty
,-aars ago occupied back seat in the concert
of Europe has resumed her place in the very
f-on- rank while Germany, which. last year was
looked rpon as having been isolated by tho
zt-lor,acv of Great Britain and as being no
1o-ger Of much account, has once more become
tho dominant factor in European affairs. the
centre Of political gravity having been restored
70 Berlin
4 notable feature Of the situation Is that Two
oe the great powers which were expected TO play
,.-,. in7portant role have had no voice what
-..r T., The recent crisis in the Balkans which
-. eo completely altered the balance Of power
a. z,-one After the showing made by the
T-,,e5 states at the international congress OF
A1gacfras It had been taken for granted that
+bfs country would take q strong hand IN all
- International controversies instead OF re-
.-,,r sloof. as had been its practice until the
- of 1895 with Spain. Japan, too had inu-
,aa+a5 that she would have something to say
,raat power in European affairs and had
-, notice that she expected to be consulted
.i,t regard TO any agreement affecting the
....,,s of Turkey and TO the modification OF the
s,is,i,g laws governing the passage Of the
Dardanelles
p,+ Gar Ferdinand has transformed BuI-
,-.-is from, q vassal state of the Porte into an
t,denandeDt sovereignty. adding the Turkish
,,ro,-ince of Eastern Roumelia, which he aIreauy
,;e+.rad in the name Of the Sultan as the
,a+..r,e Governor General 10 his new hedged
kingdom; while Austria in the same way IN
,-s+a5 ,be Ottoman provinces OF Herze-
Inc and Bosnia into her empire. without
ae7-inq any ones leave Neither the United
c..+es nor Japan was considered in the matter,
and the change in the map of Europe mas DeeI
,s,7a and ratified without either Of them being
ronsllIted OF course II may be argued 'ha'
since neither the United States nor Japan was
9 marty TO the treaty Of Berlin, OF which the
list shreds have now disappeared, they could
not exnect to be allowed any voice IN the mat
Ter F}rt the alterations which have taken place
q, The European situation affect this country 10
g r7,,ch more important degree than the Moorish
convention negotiated at the international con-
,rses NJ Algeciras. while the virtual acceptance
h. tho great mowers of Europe Of the cynical
r--;-,i,,le that treaties are binding only so long
- s,,i+s .F7e convenience of one or another Of
- ,,ar+5as thereto shows q condition Of things
- his nation cannot afford to view with in
difference.