New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-08
Austria-Hungary Announced TO
Be Planning Coup Which
Will Force Russia Uh
the Fence.
ACTIVITY AT THE FRONTIER
st. James's Palace, London,
Chosen for the Meetings
of the Balkan and
Turkish Peace
Delegates.
[By Cable to The Tribune. ]


London, Dec. 7.-Although Austria.
Hungary has now accepted in principle
the British proposal for a round table
Of ambassadors on the Balkan ques-
ton, much anxiety prevails as to the
result Of the Russian and Austrian
military preparations. Russia is COM
pleting the concentration of 10000
men on the Austrian and German
frontiers, while Berlin reports that
Austria's preparations have taken the
following specific form:
Artillery and howitzers at Semlin
trained directly on Belgrade, Austrian
army building trenches along entire
line from Cracow to Lemberg and rail-
ways in all strategic directions occu-
pied by the military.
IT is planned TO deliver TO Servia be-
tween December 10 and II an ultima
tum so couched that Russia must inn
mediately take sides one way or the
other
st. James's Palace has been chosen
for the peace meetings. The Balkan
plenipotentiaries meetings open on
Friday, the countries represented being
Turkey, Bulgaria, Servia, Greece and
Montenegro.
Question of Accommodation.
Apparently there is no question of
accommodating TIE peace delegates IN
the palace. Not only would they be in
convenienced by being housed together.
but it will be much easier to accommo-
date them In hotels or In private houses
specially rented. They will in any case
be the guests Of the British govern
ment, which has hospitality fund TO
which. the Treasury makes an annual
grant of $4,000.
st. James's Palace. though only
used nowadays for levees, Is still
officially the administrative seat of the
court, which Is always officially de-
scribed as the Court Of st. James's.
The meetings Of the Balkan delegates
will probably be held in the great coun-
Gil chamber on the first floor.
The delegates named by the different
countries to act on their behalf at the
conference are:
For Turkey-Tewfik Pacha, Turkish
Ambassador In London; Osnan Niz-
ami Pacha, Turkish Ambassador In
Berlin; Rechad Pacha, Turkish Min
lister Of Commerce.
For Servia-G. Novakovich Of the
Servian Treasury Department; A. Nix
olich, Speaker Of the Servian Parlia-
ment; General Boyovich.
For Montenegro-Ex-Pr Miyus-
kovich; NJ. Popovich, formerly Monte
negrin Minister at Constantinople;
Count Veyovich. chief Of the King Of
Montenegro's cabinet.
For Bulgaria--Dr. Guechoff, Prime
Minister; DR.. S. Daneff, Speaker Of the
Bulgarian Chamber of Deputies, and
General savoff or General FitcheH.
A Triumph of Diplomacy.
The arrangements thus agreed upon
have strained all the resources of Euro
pean diplomacy. There have been times
I'm the last month when even the con-
sent Of all the governments to a friend
ly gathering appeared beyond the range
Of possibility. Austria consented yes
terday TO join the ambassadorial con-
ference. and Germany, which stood
aside awaiting the decision Of her ally,
annoupced her acquiescence to-day.
This will be by far the most i'm
portant assembly of diplomats since the
Berlin Conference In 1878, after the
Russo Turkish war. Giants like Bis
marck, Beaconsfleld Salisbury and
Gortchakoff will not tread the stage.
but their successors will have an
equally important work to perform
One question charged with the possi-
bilties of disaster Is Servia's un-
quenchable determination for an Adri-
attic port and Austrias determination
that she shall not have it. Servian of
fetal newspapers make It plain that the
little kingdom has made up its mind
to take instructions from the powers so
far as public opinion in Servia will
let it,
To Lose Four Million Subjects.
A second interesting struggle will
take place over Turkeys endeavors to
hold as much of the conquered terri
tory as Oriental diplomacy and the help
Of friendly powers can save for her.
The best bargain the Sultan can make
probably will reduce his subjects in
Europe from more than six millions to
less than two millions, and the Turk
seems to be reconciled To this.
| A third important factor will be the
Greek attempt to gain Salonica.
Various other difficult questions will
arise over the commercial status Of the
various states, the disposition Of the
Turkish debts attached to the con-
quered country and the final status Of
Adrianople.
That the peace negotiations proper
will be less complicated than had been
feared Is promised by the two facts
that Turkey and Bulgaria appear to
have reached an understanding already
and that the dissension among the al