Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-17

Cablegrams from Constantinople dated
the 18th instant confirm the acceptance
by Turkey Of the in
Agreement demnity of SO, 800 600 Of
p.s fered by Austria for the
annexation Of Bosnia
Herzegovina. This agreement includes the
abandonment of Austria's rights in NoVi-
bazaar. the suppression OF Austrian post
offices in Turkish territory where no
other foreign post offices exist, the abro-
CATION of certain ancient privileges over
Albanian Catholics. etc, all Of which are
to be incorporated in a protocol which
is being prepared for signature.
The agreement. which at the first glance
may seem TO insure a peaceful solution
Of the Balkan question. does not for a
fact accomplish that object. but on the
contrary makes more apparent the fires
that are smoldering in other places;
Servia is the first to utter a cry OF
alarm, and on the announcement of the
AustrO-Turkish agreement convened a
special cabinet meeting to discuss stu
alton which from her point OF view
menaces the independence and autonomy
of Servia and Montenegro.
The Austro-Turkish agreement opens
the door to the proposed conference.
which may possibly consolidate its peace
full intentions. but there are serious doubts
on that head.
At the moment also when peace would
seem to be possible the press of Europe
appears most pessimistfc and proclaims
it's fears that war Is imminent. The
Gazette de Voss contains an article en-
titled Who Wishes War; in which II
writes:
THE little states that composed the
Balkans are powerless; Turkey will no,
draw her sword without necessity; Russia
requires repose after her defeats; France
has given proof that far from stirring
up the fire she would render reconcllia
ton possible: Austro-Hungary. whilst
calmly defending her position as a great
power, does not desire a conflict; Ger
many and Italy wish peace. England re-
mains upon whom suspicion rests. 1t Is
for her to refute a widespread opinion
that she is the source OF obstacle to
peace. IF war breaks out in the spring.
concludes the Gazette "it will be the
fruit Of British policy"
NJ. Scarfoglio. director of the Nattino
of Naples, has published an article on the
European situation. which
Italian is closely connected with
o:: the situation in the Bal
kans. NJ. Scarfoglios ar.
ticle presents Italy's relations to Austria
which are undeniably strained and con-
stitute a real danger TO the peace OF
Europe.
+ NJ Scarfoslio. in the first place, declares
that war will break out in the Balkans In
the spring. and that such a war will lead
to a general conflagration.
He believes that France has everything
to gain. and besides may have an oppor'
tunity for revenge. England has nothing
with Germany will compensate largely for
the risks undertaken. Germany, on the
contrary, according to the director OF the
Matttino. will risk bankruptcy and com
plete disaster for her industry and com.
merce. Turkey is prepared. What
should be Italy's attitude?' asks NJ
Scarfoglio. War between Italy and
Austria being Inevitable, Italy should
employ the few months that remain &c
push her war preparations and place her
army and navy in a position to meet any
emergency"
The Berlin correspondent OF the Herald
remarks the increasing influence OF the
Prussian military party with the EN-
peror. In place of counseling prudence
at Vienna William II is anxious to sec
Austria in an underhand way to make
war upon Turkey in order to take Sa-
loniki and Bulgaria and conquer Mace
donia.
tributes to the Archduke Francis Ferdi-
nand, heir to the throne OF the Emperor
Francis Joseph, warlike tendencies that
are more pronounced than those OF the
Emperor OF Germany. Francis Ferdi-
nands influence In the councils of the
empire are preponderant.
The correspondent of the London Daily
Telegraph. writing Of Austrian military
preparations from the regions of the
Adriatic, says: 'One must be deaf and
1;.~1 - 40 Cyf rCg
being made on the frontiers OF Servia,
Montenegro, Trieste and Pola, and by
land and sea troops which are being di-
rected in great numbers southwark.
Austria will have in two months 10000
men in line and ready to march. BE
sides, since twenty years. railways and
strategic lines have been constructed
and even railroad depots have beer
transformed into veritabIe fortresses.
At Constantinople the Turks are conf
dent that England is with them. and also
France and Russia II
Turkish necessary. and therefore
1a. they view the situation
with composurc.
The opinion in Europe gains ground
that the Emperor Francis Joseph has
abandoned the conduct of the foreign
office of Austria to Baron dAehrenthal
who would endeavor to play the role of
Metternich and thus become the arbiter
of the destiny Of Europe. But diplo-
matte circles have little faith in Baron
d. Aehrenthal. having failed to recognize
IN him a particle of the tact and finesse
that distinguished Metternich.
The Temps Of Paris of December %
has a significant article on the situa-
ton which merits reproduction because
of the conservative character OF that
journal and the fact that 1t is the ac-
knowledged organ of the French govern
ment The Temps writes:
diplomatic Offices with their sluggish
optimism will finish, II they do not take
care, by bringing Europe to a precipice.
1t Is time to give vent to cry of alarm
and to recall that above the covetousness
and vanities there is the welfare Of Eu-
rope. that is, the maintenance Of peace
No one is exempt from reproach. and
if Austrian journals do not recognize the
obligations imposed upon them. the Rus
sian journals are not more moderate and
the English journals still less so. This
clatter Of the press, from whatever quar-
ter 1t may come, is absurd and detestable
europeans as We arc we are being
dragged to moral failure and catastro-
phies. 1t is to mock the world to speak
of the progress of an entente. The en-
tente is neither effected nor ready to be
effected. Let us speak our mind, the
situation is more difficult than 1t was