Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
THE BALKAN ALLIANCE.

The war scare-the proba of war
in Europe over the assumed tension be
tween Austria and Ser
Quletlng via concerning the lat
N. ter's intention TO occu-
OiSPoeehoS' by a post on the Adri-
atic-was declared myth by a dispatch
from Vienna on the 25th of November.
On the 9th dispatches from Lon
don confirmed the pacific intentions
of Austria by the following: Austria
Hungary is prepared to agree to questions
concerning Albania. the desire OF SerNia
for a port the Adriatic, and other is
sues as proposed by Premier Asquith.
But where there is smoke there is fire.
and we must not be surprised AT the
variations in the daily political barome
ter. Servia has demanded window on
the Adriatic because essential To her
economical and political life, and no
power in Europe viii prevent it, much
less Austria. Italy is watching with her
modified fleet for her opportunity.
Austria's attitude was portentous of a
storm. but it was only a prodgious bun
which may be repeated AS the occaS ON
recurS. Sometime between the 10Th and
the 18th utimo. when the Vienna press
was the most violent toward Servia's pre-
tentions. NJ Danef president of the Bui-
garian chamber was suddenly charged
by Ferdinand King of Bulgaria, with a
secret mission to confer with the Austro-
Hungarian government at Budapest.
NJ Danef has been known since the
last ten years or more as the counselor
and advocate of the Balkanic entente.
He openly suggested such an agr cement
several months ago. and he had Il promi-
nent part in the preliminary negot atoms
which led to the Balkan alliance. No one
I.a-a more authority than NJ. Danef 10
submit the cause of the Balkan allies
properly to the government at Budapest.
=
NJ. Danefs mission marked the first
oestact of the Ba kan alliance with that
of the triplice. The elo-
NJ. Danef'S quent lawyer and diplomat
rx: would not fail to impress
"AiSSioA' the government at Buda-
pest with certain facts that appeared TO
have been ignored by Count Berchtold. In
19OS. for example. Austria accomplished
without war what had cost the Balkanic
states a bloody war with its necessary
sacrifice of blood and treasure. Austria,
indeed. had commenced the liquidation OF
Turkey. and Austria should not complain
of Turkeys long-suffering victims would
Europe would applaud. Does Austria
seriously propose TO prevent the taking by
Servia, or rather the retaking, OF what
had been taken from the Balkanic coun-
tries by the Turk?
In 1905 the Balkanic states demurred
because Austria annexed Bosnia ii ere
govina, whose people were SlayS and not
Germans. And austria then replied to
these natural protestations by threats of
war. Why should Austria assume 10
prohibit one of the Balkan states from
taking a port on the Adratic? The
Aegean sea was reserved for Greeks and
Bulgarians. Serv.a's ancient traditions
clearly marked her way to the Adriatic.
The Balkan allies came together With
out Europe. They mobliZed their armies
without Europe. They would treat with
Turkey without Europe The Austrian
press has worked itself to fever heat over
Austrias offended dignity. No one had
touched Austria $ dignity. There was (
conflict Of pretension between one OF the
Old powers and a young group of states
which had won its spurs IN the presence
of the world. The Balkan alliance was
now a strong and united force.
Ii was Mr.. Asquith who attracted the
appreciation of al impartial minds when
ne said: 1t is necessary to avoid iSo ated
initiatives and reserve the whole question
for general arbitration. This Is a
reasona bic suggestion, for everything out
was intended especially for Austria, but
no one seems to have taken umbrage at
it, The measured attitude of +. ance,
Russia and England renders it easy for
Austria to moderate her attitude. There
is but little doubt that Austria will mod
crate her policy, for it is necessary that
Vienna may understand that the condi-
tons of 1908 no longer exist, and il is
certain that the triple entente viii not
submit to a policy of dictation based
"A
*
The rhodomontade of the Austro- Hun
garian press may be best understood by
citing from the Nues Pes
Austrian ter Journal, which in its
D,4 editorial declared that all
oA"S'oA' Austro- Hungarian circles be-
lieved that military measures would be
taken against Servia.
1T is a question: said the Poster. Ito
show to the governments of Belgrade and
the people of Servia what a hazardous
undertaking is the trespassing upon the
rights and wounding the dignity of a
great power. No one in Austria-Hun-
gary will contest the necessity nor the
opportunity of decisive action, never
theless no one either Will think without
repugnance of a warl-ke conflict. There
could not be a war with Servia.
NJ Danef without doubt has given NJ
Berchtold not only Servia 5 views on the
question at issue, but a SO those of the
Balkan allies That the visit has not
been without good results the followlnS
note from a Belgrade correspondent indi-
Gates. He writes:
The rumor runs with persistence that
Austria mobiliZes her troops. \ states
man very we'll Informed has remarked
that there is pro able eXaggeration in
these reports. spread in order to influence
the decision of the allies. When Vienna
discovers the irrevocable character OF the
Servian decision to reach the AdrlaLc
she will cease this intimidation ma
neuVer.
Another correspondent teleSraphs from
Belgrade that he was informed by a hlSh
official that Blu garia and SerVia propose