Evening star., 1909-03-10
IN BALKANS
Passing of War Cloud and Its
Effects.
TURKEYS LOSS AND GAIN
Stripped of Territory, But Much
Richer in Cash.
BENEFITS TO SMALL STATES
Advantages That Have Come to
Them Through the Severance Of
Turkish Rule or Suzerainty.
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS,

Herald.
The war cloud has nassed from the
Balkan states. leaving several important
changes upon the map OF what we have
known as Turkey in Europe" For
several months there has been a grave
danger Of war, which involved all the
great powers. but, strange to say. the
rivalrles and iealousies that have existed
SO long between England, Russia. Austria
and Germany for the control of the buffer
states along the Mediterranean seems
to have entirely subsided. Those nations
are now acting in harmony to preserve
the peace, although half a dozen treaties
have been violated and the compact
which was signed between the powers at
Berlin after the war between Turkey
and Russia in 1877 to preserve the status
quo In the Balkans has been trampled
upon ,lo and torn in fragments. Neverthe-
less every nation is satisfied. and the new
Turkish government, which has lost near
'ly all its territory in Europe, seems to
be fully consoled by large cash indem-
mites which will be paid by Austria and
Bulgaria. This money Is very badly
needed by the Turkish government, and
there are certain other advantages in a
cash arrangement, because If Turkey had
insisted upon fighting to retain her terri
tory she would certainly have been
territory and the money. The net result,
therefore, is as follows:
l. The complete sovereignty Of Bull
garfa. her recognition as an Independent
kingdom instead of principality and
the enlargement Of her territory by the
annexation of eastern Rumelia.
=. Austria permanently annexes Bosnia
and Herzegovina, which have been under
her protectorate since 1873.
3. Greece takes advantage Of the trou-
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Crete. which was taken away from her
by Turkey after the war several years
ago.
The question of Crete is not a serious
one. and can probably be settled by the
payment of proper indemnity. providing
the matter is not further complicated by
some impolitic action upon the part of
the Greeks.
Conference Likely to Be Delayed.
1t. is not at all likely that a conference
will be held until the situation is cleared
up somewhat further, as the European
powers find themselves in a rather deli
cate position, as without stultifying them
selves, they cannot countenance the vio-
lation Of solemn agreements by Austria
and bulgaria. and, on the other hand 1t
would be dangerous to attempt to force
Austria to retract, backed up as she
is by Germany. For this reason the
sublime porte has been encouraged to ac-
cept the money and to arrive at amicable
settlements with the Austrians and Bull
garians.
Such agreements have been reached
because the Turks are determined to have
peace at all costs. They realize the ne
cessity of long period Of peace to enable
them to carry out the many important
reforms necessary and to bring he EN-.
pire up to modern standard. and they
VIII not stop at any reasonable sacrifice
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to bring about a settlement
Servia seems to be the only party to the
deal that has been left out, but there Is
a good prospect that she will enjoy GER
tain economical advantages which Russia
and Germany have agreed to secure from
Austria In the way of reduction of GUS
toms duties and additional facilities for
trade
Perhaps it might be interesting and
would enable people to understand the
news from Europe better If the situation
were explained.
Turkey in Europe. az we are accus-
TONED to see the name on the map,
extended from the Baltic sea and the
Besphorus to the Adriatic sea on the east.
and with the exception of Greece, from
the Danube river on the north to the
Mediterranean This part of the Otto
man empire was divided into a number
or provinces namely-Bulgaria, Rumelia,
Albania. Servia, Montenegro, Herzego-
vina and Bosnia. Bulgaria and Seryia
were independent kingdoms in ancient
times. and after the war between Russia
ana Turkey In 1873 were given semi-in-
dependence. and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
being next to Austrian territory. were
placed under protectorate of that gov
ernment Since then an Austrian gov
ernor has been making extraordinary
improvements in their conditions.
Reclaimed to Civilization.
The regeneration of those two states
has been wonderful, almost miraculous
There never was so complete and rapid a
transformation from semf-barbarism to
civilization as has occurred there The
widest and most turbulent section of
Europe has become peaceful and pros
perous. filled with rich farmers and
pusy workshops; the population has In
creased rap pidly; much foreign capital has
gone In to develop the natural resources
and the administration has been ideal
Having reformed and regenerated these
countries. it Is perfectly natural that
aus.ria should desire to annex them
permanently, and it has been done in de-
nance or the terms OF the Berlin treaty
OF 1878. and without offering to assume
any part Of the debt of the Turkish en-
plre. which should naturally be shared
by those stolen provinces.
Turkey was helpless. Austria took ad-
vantage of the revolution against the
sultan to annex that part Of his domin-
ion. but has since shown q reasonable. If
not generous, desire to do the proper
thing. Within the last few days a treaty
has been signed at Vienna by the diplo-
matte Representatives. of Turkey and
Austria. under which the former govern
ment agrees to relinqush Bosnia and
Herzegovina, and Austria agrees to paw
$1O.SO,OU as compensation for the i'm
perial forests situated in the annexed
provinces
A Victory for Peace.
This arrangement is satisfactory to
both nations. and every one must con-
cede that 1t is a great deal better than
war, which would cost many times
that amount of money and thousands of
lives. Turkey could never have recov-
cred the two provinces; the people would
never again have lived under Turkish,
government; the population is thoroughly
in sympathy with Austria, and 1t has
been made so by the practical policy of
the Austrian administrators. During the
trian soldiers have been maintained in
Bosnia. and as an inducement for them
to remain there after their three years
of military service they were given
farms and made exempt from many du-
ties Of the soldier provided they married
Bosnian girls On the other hand, the
young men of Bosnia were sent up into
Austria to perform their military serv-
ice. and were offered similar inducements
to marry Austrian girls and return to
their native country. 1t is unfortunate
that we cannot introduce this admirable
system of assimilation In the Philippines.
With Bulgaria the situation is some
what different. When that little coun-
try was allowed to set up business for
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