New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-16
Conference To Be Opened at
Noon by Sir Edward Grey
in st. JameS'S Palace.
WILL GREECE TAKE PART?
Balkan Delegates Think Con-
troversy Between Servia
and Austria the Result
of Latter's Bluff.


is expected to open at noon to-day
Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for For
eign Affairs, will make a brief speech
of welcome. and after expressing the
hope of a fruitful end of their labors
he will retire and leave the conference
to deliberate in private.
The sessions will be held in the pict-
ure gallery of St. James's Palace.
The delegates spent a quiet Sunday.
Nothing has transpired yet to show
whether any serious difficulty is likely
to arise over the attendance of the
Greek delegates. Concerning the
Austro- Servian controversy, the Bal
kan delegates think it the result of
Austrian bluff. They say:
vienna having seen her traditional
programme of gradually extending
through the Balkan States to Salonica
completely wrecked, has tried TO
counterbalance the bad effect it has
had at home by clamoring that Albania
must be autonomous, according to the
Austro-Italian agreement concluded in
1907 Therefore. neither Greece nor
servia can occupy the Albanian Adri-
attic coast, much less Servia, as Servia
means Russia.
Position of Montenegro.
What does Montenegro represent"
asked one of the delegates, laughing,
with its ports at Antivari and Dull
cigno to which Scutari will soon be
added it being no mystery to anybody
that the small kingdom can be con-
sidered almost as Russian province,
and the Montenegrin army as a con-
tingent Of the Muscovite forces?'
According to the Balkan delegates,
Austria's increased ornaments and the
practical mobilization Of her amy are
due less to the probability of declaring
war against Servia than to the grave
internal situation in the monarchy, the
unrest I'm Hungary and the agitation
among Servians. especially in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, where even those
holding positions under the Austrian
government have openly protested
against the attitude Of the Dual Mon
srchy An additional cause for concern
is the threatening attitude Of the Slavs
generally throughout Austrian terri
tory. which caused the dissolution Of
the municipalities of Sebenico, Spalato
and cara, on the charge of being anti
Austrian.
Vienna" the Balkan delegates con-
tinue, has too many troubles at home
TO think seriously Of war, for which
she is financially not prepared-a fact
proved by the loan recently concluded
in the United States at a rate OF in
terest higher than any great power has
paid in late years. Besides, Germany,
Notwithstanding her alliance. has ex-
ercised an influence tending TO moder-
ate Austrian ardor
Talk Of Coup d'etat.
Admitting, however, coup etat
on the part OF Austria, we certainly
know that neither Servia nor any other
Of the Balkan States would be left
alone, as Russia would come to their
assistance, being to-day no longer the
Russia of the war with Japan, and, in
deed, anxious TO show what she can do
in Europe.
AT the time of the annexation Of
Bosnia and Herzegovina the Russian
Emperor himself was on the point Of
sending an ultimatum TO Austria which
would have led TO war. but he was pre-
vented from so doing through the
IL will be retorted that Germany would
support Austria against Russia, but in
this case France would be forced by
the Russo French alliance to attack
Germany.
This would mean a general con
flagration, which all have more interest
10 prevent than to provoke, and which
will not be brought about for a rela-
lively insignificant cause such as allow
ing Servia TO have strip of land along
the southern frontier Of Montenegro
and a small stretch Of coast on the
Adriatic."
No further development In the inter-
national situation is reported. Accord
ing TO Vienna dispatch tonight moth
ing is known Of the statements circu-
lated in Paris that Servia has protested
10 Austria against the latter country's
military demonstrations.
Financial Strain Heavy.
The Vienna 'Reichspost," in an edi-
torial dealing with the crisis, refers to
the financial strain on Austria Hun
gary. 1t estimates the expenditure on
military preparations at S105,O00. 900,
and the total losses 10 the Dual Mon
archy in the last few years as a result
of the recurrent Servian crisis as
nearly S625,OO0,0O0. This latter figure,
however, is understood to cover the de-
probation In prices Of government Sc
curities.
A Belgrade dispatch represents the
Servian government as ready, II neces-
sary, to send delegates TO Vienna for
friendly negotiations with Austria on
the basis Of Albanian autonomy and a
Servian port on the Adriatic. which
Servia would engage not TO transform
into q military port while Austria