The sun., 1909-01-14
Peace Seemingly Assured in SOUTH
eastern Europe.

eastern Europe.
Thanks mainly to the influence exerted
by Great Britain and Russia at Constan-
tinople the Ottoman Government has
at last agreed to Austria's annexation
of Bosnia and the Herzegovina in con-
sideration OF receiving about til ,OOO,-
900. To save the face Of the Vienna
Government which persistenty has
refused to pay any indemnity, the sum
named Is offered and accepted IA
compensation for the imperial forests
situated ID the annexed provinces.
Although some minor arrangements
between the parties directly concerned
remain to be concluded, there is now
manifestly no obstacle to an early
meeting Of a European conference to
revise the Berlin treaty formally.
It is true that the relations of Turkey
and Bulgaria are still unsettled, the
former Power having as yet declined to
recognize the independence of the prin-
oipality. The negotiations concerning
the terms Of an agreement have hitherto
come to nothing because while the Sofa
Government has been willing to pay
lump sum for the annual tribute
hitherto forthcoming from Eastern
Rllmelia and also to buy out Turkeys
interests in the Eastern Rumelian sec
ton of the Oriental Railway, Turkey has
demanded in addition an indemnity in
lieu Of the tribute imposed upon Bull
garia by the Berlin treaty and also in
lieu of Bulgaria's share of responsible
ty for the Ottoman foreign debt.
Against these two additional exactions
Bulgaria has thus far set her face, but
hitherto she has been strengthened by
the knowledge that in the event Of a
war with Turkey she could rely on help
from Austria. That prop has now been
withdrawn. and the influence Of the
Vienna Government, like that OF Russia
and Great Britain, will henceforth be
eYerted at Sofia in favor of an accom-
modation. In any event Bulgaria must
either come to an understanding quickly
with the former suzerain or she will
have to abide the decision Of the inter-
national conference.
By the conclusion Of an agreement
between Turkey and Austria it is obvi-
ous that Servia and Montenegro are left
in the lurch. After all, however, eI-
cept for the necessity Of renouncing the
hope Of a Greater Servia, which never
was anything but dream, they are no
worse of than they have been at any
time during the last thirty years. In
deed they may be better of II they
choose, for Austria while refusing to
cede to them a strip of the annexed terri
tory offers. it is said, to grant them a
right Of way through it for a railway
connecting Belgrade with the Adriatic.
II these petty principalities imagine
that the st. Petersburg Government
win oountenance any further attempt /
on their part to disturb the peace Of Eu-
rope they are reckoning without their
host They may, Of course, appeal to
the coming conference, and 1t is barely
possible that Turkey may be advised
to grant them, in consideration Of a |
sum OF money payable on their part,
Q section Of the sandjak OF Novibazar
which would connect the two south
Slavic principalities.
For the dispelling OF the cloud which
for weeks has hung over the Balkan
region the thanks Of the civilized world
are due principally TO England, France
and Russia, whose representations in
favor Of an amicable settlement Of the
and Bosnian questions and
of the convocation OF a conference in
order to uphold the principle OF the
inviolability of treaties have been
earnest and unremitting at Constanti-
nople and Vienna. In simple justice
to the Emperor WILLIAM it must also
be said that had not his potent in
fuence been thrown on the same side
10 Is extremely doubtful whether the
Austro- Hungarian Government would
have receded from its original per- I
refusal to pay any pecuniary
Iaielnnity whatever TO Turkey. Ais
ven that ends well. Even Austria
Inns much TO gain by her acceptance
VI peaceful coinsels. Had war fol-
owed her high handed act the outlay
Dh military operations would have cost
her more in week than she will now
ne called upon to pay in year.
inaugurating MIR. Taft.
4 i