Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-14

TOday. august IA. in Cettinje, capital
of Montenegro, Prince Nicholas. with the
consent of the powers. as
Nicholas sumes the title and priv
r v;, ileges of king. The event
is important. for. besides
placing the prince on an equal plane with
the other chiefs OF the Balkanic states. 1t
adds q very wise head to their number
destined perhaps to play an important
role in the destiny not only Of his new
made kingdom. but in the destiny of the
proposed Balkanic confederation. OF which
Montenegro must be a part
The relations of Montenegro and Servia
are at present disturbed, strained over
some petty question. family jar. which
threatened at one time to impair the
friendly feelings of the two countries, but
the affair is not serious.
The occasion, the jubilee of the prince,
is propitous to refer to the ever-per-
picking problem of the Balkans, which
remain a sort of nightmare upon the dis
turbed brain of Europe. The action of
Russia In Fastening to conclude an agree
ment with Japan. it is charged, Is largely
due to Russias Impotence to free her.
self in Manchuria, that she may be free
to assume any part which her aggressive
adverSarieS may impose upon her in Eu-
rope. and first of all in the Balkans.
Diplomatic circles have been stirred
these days over the report of q political
and military agreement between Turkey.
Germany and Austria-Hungary. The vi
emma journals have gone so far as to an
nounce that Haiku Pacha. grand vizier.
was about to go to Marienbad under pre-
text of taking the cure in reality to con-
fer with Count d'Aehrenthal on the SUBJ
ject of an agreement to be concluded be-
tween Constantinople. Berlin and Vienna
Notwithstanding the fact that the report
has been officially denied, it is. neverthe-
less, true that the alarm continues.
When the constitutional regime was es-
tablshed in Turkey Germany feared that
she would lose the mani
German fest influence she had ex-
p-o.+;,r. ercised during the Hamid-
ian regime. The fall OF
Abdul-Hamid was severe blow to Ger
man policy. Nevertheless, Germany did
not lose her place entirely. for there were
many Of the Young Turk party who. hav-
ing studied in Germany, were imbued
with German ideas.
The military element, as we have seen,
has played preponderant role at Con-
stantinople, and this despite the fact of
the annexation of Bosnia HERZEGOVINA to
Austria Hungary, Germany's ally. 1t is
undoubtedly the subject of some diSquiet
at st. Petersburg. London and Paris that
Germany maintains her influence at Con-
stantinOple. The rapprochement of Italy
and Russia follows as set-off to the as
sumed observation-disclosures agree
ment Italy remains in the triple alliance,
although her interests in the Balkans are
directly opposed. Turkey does not ig-
more the fact that Russia is the irspira-
ton of all the Slav elements which form
q great part of the Balkan composition
Ottoman policy directed against Russia
would inevitably provoke the hostility
Of the Balkan states. Should the Con-
stantinople government endeavor to form
relations beyond her borders her proper
interests dictate first of all the estab-
lishment of the proposed Balkanic con-
federation. Turkey should become d
member of that confederation and direct
rather than risk it's being directed against
her.
The directors of the Ottoman policy are
too intelligent to commit the error of TAX
ing UP with certain inf1u-
Turkeys ences in opposition to 9TH
Tn>aree& ers. Turkeys salvation
'eAe0'' lies in the maintenance of
peace in the Balkans. Turkey is seeking
to regenerate the Ottoman empire. She
requires financial and political aid for the
exploitation of her own resources. When
this is achieved she may be free to form
alliances, but until then she will not VEN
ture to enter into any of the propositions
of the European groups. Haiku Pasha
may encounter Count d'Aehrenthal, and
these statesmen may have interesting
conversations. but it is almost certain
that no military Turco-Germano-Austri
or 10 o.
tan question nor the menace of conflict
between Greece and Turkey is consid-
cred at this moment seriously, because
the governments of Russia, England,
France and Italy possess ample means to
prevent a conflict which might precipi-
tate a general European war.
Not only is Turkey without the financial
means of making war, but none of
the continental powers is in a situa-
ton to run the risk Of conf1agration.
Turkey, which undoubtedly would van
quish Greece, realizes that such a victory
would be sterile, for Europe would not
permit Turkey any more than in 1897 to
appropriate Greek territory. Besides the
considerable sacrifice of money which
such a war would entail, Turkey would
furnish the occasion to Bulgarians and
Servians to impose certain conditions in
Macedonia.
Il i
Inc recent NlSitS VI hiHS VI
Bulgaria and of King Peter Of Servia to
Car Nicholas It Peterhof and
ROYAL to Sultan Mehemed at Dol
ou ma-Bagtche, in turn, have
OoAiS' been interpreted by the Euro
pean press as the presage of the estab-
lishment of Balkanic confederation. The
immediate object of these visits was on
the part of Ferdinand the definite admis-
sion of his dynasty into the family of
sovereigns, the other the conservation of
his new royal title. Several crowned
heads will assist at the jubilee Of the
Prince of Montenegro today, and this
fact would seem to indicate that these
meetings the prelimi-
naries of a general agreement of the
powers. 1t is to be remarked that at
Racconigi already October %, 1909, it was
asserted that the question of the Balkans
was discussed between the car and the
King of Italy.
The idea of a Ralkanic confederation is
not new, but very ancient. From the
byzantine epoch it was the dream Of the
emperorS. Subsequently in the eclipse of
the old empire the Slav cars adopted the
same policy. Etienne Douchan sought to
organize a confederation of the Balkan
with Venice; he asked the Pope for the
title of captain Of Christianity against
invaders and infidels.' Schisms arose to
prevent him from obtaining title which
would have saved Europe from the Otto
man invasion.
The first attempt at a realization of
a federative organization came from