New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-18
A Diplomatic Bon Mot.


Russia and Turkey.
A Diplomatic Bon Mot.
AT the meeting to-day the greatest
attention centred on Count Albert
Mensdorff, the Austro-Hugarian Am
hassador. and Count Benckendorff, the
Russian Ambassador. Their colleagues
jokingly put to the former question
as to whether he had brought from
Vienna peace or war. Count Mensdorh'
twisting his we'll cropped and waXed
moustache. answered with smile but
without losing his habitual gravity:
Peace, Peace" adding in Latin 'Slcut
IN duantum.' cup TO certain point. }
Both he and Count Benckendorif de-
MED the correctness of the reports de-
| scribing the ornaments OF their re-
spectiye countries. which they declare
do not have any alarming character
and do not surpass prudential preca"-
tions rendered necessary by the cl"se-
ness to the theatre of war.
, The ambassadorial conference NAV
acouire a still greater importance H. IS
may happen tomorrow, the conference
at 81. James's Palace is unable to con-
tinue at work. owing TO the continuance
Of the difficulties between the TURKS
and Greeks on the question of ne
ar,nisticc. The general impression
among the delegates is that this ques-
ton will be amicably solved, either by
finding a formula allowing Greece 10
adhere to the armistice or by turkey
consenting 10 treat with her. leaving
the question of the armistice in abeJ-
ance.
/ The Turkish delegation declared judi
cially that the Ottoman government
could treat only with Bulgaria, SerV:d
and Montenegro on the basis OF me
terms of the armistice, that they nad
no official knowledge that Greece IN
tended TO participate in the peace
negotiations, and that only at to-day 5
sitting did the intention Of the Greeks
become officially known
Meanwhile the Turks proposed 10
treat with the states, for which they Nd
full powers, and asked them to formu-
late their desiderata. An animated dis
cussion ensued, and the Ottoman pro-
nosal was refused for the reason that
the four states form one bloc"
The Turkish delegation added that
their instructions were to proceed with
out delay to the conclusion of an honor
able peace The result of the sitting
was telegraphed to Constantinople and
will be taken up for consideration by
the Council Of Ministers there to-day.
United States as Mediator.
The contingency that mediation may
ultimately offer the only solution of the
war has been the subject OF much dis
cussion The heads Of the Bulgarian
and Servian delegations during the
course OF interviews recognized that
the United States might be in posi-
ton 10 act as peacemaker, as President
Roosevelt did between Russia and
Japan.
|
earian Chamber of Deputies, one of the
most brilliant of the delegates, was fuji
of yivacity and ardor in speaking on
possible American mediation. He said:
| II an understanding between the Balkan
states and Turkey is impossible, not
! Withstanding the friendly adVices when
| certainly VIII come from the conference
| ~ the ambassadors. | believe that Amer
. 49,. l.. ri 4 4 a
| and will be received as quite justifiable
| an account OF American interests in the
| Balkans and Turkey, which are not lack
| ing and have sufficient importance 10 on
! titie Washington TO offer its good offices
| Tor nm imuartial settlement of the con-
The United States has colleges, COM
mercial firms, marltime mes ana mn. mr.
and Turkey Besides, she has with Bull
! aria ties of culture, many among us
/ having been educated IN the United
| states and having brought irom that lana
81 liberty and independence that worship
| co.. frnedom which has FASTENED the cN-
niosion Of our natural vindication.
| J Our peopIe have the same spirit OF en-
| ,.rrrise as the Americans, and with A
| for wears of resurrection We viii change
INC face of our country. indeed we as
/ MIRO 10 become the Americans or Europe.
I r,poat. intervention by the nited
/ c,atcs canning I'm case of failure by the
/ Turonean powers. would hc received win
| d,,o,, arms But / call IL purposely in
V.lpTr,antinn. not wishing 20 underline any
o,her word. as mediation might then he
90 little while arbitration, being TOO
much. could not be accepted or admitted.
Stoian Nevakevlch. the head of the
Servian delegation, said
The choice cf the United States r. as
mediator would be an excellent one. The
III" fcars i'm this connection are that
the distance of the United states from