New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-17

rian frontier. south Of Adrianople, shall
! be marked by the Martha River while
the territory west of Martha as far
as the Struma River goes TO Bulgaria
which thus would have the port II
Kavala, to which she has long asDir a'i
Furthermore, Turkey will demand
that Salonica, over the possession Of
which, ii is pointed out. serious Greco
Bulgarian antagonism has arisen, shall
remain to Turkey, and. together with
Monastir and Scutari and their respec-
tive districts, shall form ottoman ter
ritory surrounding Albania.
Servia is to have Uskub, Pristina,
Mitrovitza and part of the SanJak of
Novipazar, the remaining part going
10 Montenegro.
To Bulgaria is conceded the Island
of Thasos, but Turkey claims posses
sion OF the other islands in the Hgean,
including Samothrace, Imbros. Lemnos
and Mitylene, together with those now
occupied by Italy. because the latter
belong to Asiatic Turkey. But the adj
ministration at Constantlnople pledges
itself to obtain from England, Russia,
France and Italy, the four protective
powers in Crete their consent that this
island shall be annexed to Greece.
Delegates Far Apart.
These terms would give the allies
four-ffths of the territory, which
few weeks ago was European Turkey,
but, notwithstanding what seems TO be
great concession, a comparison OF
the terms of the allies with those of
Turkey is sufficient to show the I'M
mense gulf separating them
Even admitting that many conces-
sions are made on both sides, an ulti-
mate understanding appears extremely
difficult Because of this the idea Of
mediation has been put forward. All
the delegates. however, declare en-
phaticaly that they know nothing
about mediation, and that It is ex-
traneous to their mission here, which
is limited to the negotiation Of peace,
without even the power of concluding
IT. For the conclusion Of peace either
they or others must receive the au-
thorization of their respective govern
ments
The delegates did not refuse 10 dis
cuss the question unofflcially. and re-
marked that II would he impossible for
Russia or Austria TO mediate, as both
Of these powers are too interested in
the settlement one way or another,
nor could Germany, because she is
bound 10 Austria: nor could Italy, be
cause of the recent war between that
country and Turkey. There only re-
manned England and France, which
might he acceptable to both parties.
but their selection might give umbrage
TO Germany and Austria.
II was pointed out that the only
great power absolutely disnterested
and impartial is the United States
and that IL II were possible 10 bring
about something OF the same intcrven-
ton which in 1908 led To the Ports
mouth Conference and the conclusion
Of peace between Russia and japan,
this might lead 10 actual mediation.
This would not be the first time that
action on the part Of the United States
has made itself felt in a matter con
corning Turkey Unofficial interven-
ton by the United States had benz
ficient effect in the Turco- italian war,
when last June tho American Ambas-
sador in Rome, Thomas J. O'Brien.
after an understanding with tho italian
Premier. notified the American Ambas-
sador in Constantinoplc, w W Rock
hill. of the peace conditions proposed
by Italy. which were exactly those en-
bodied in the treaty OF Lausanne
Ambassador Rockhill, representing a
country without territorial or other as
pirations in the Ottoman Empire, was
the main instrument in convincing the
Porte of the uselessness of resistance
and the ACCESSIBILITY of coming to terms
with Italy. The negotiations through
Ambassadors O'Brien and Rockhill
reached so far that on october : Presi-
dent Taft instructed the Ambassador
by cable to prefer the good offices Of
the United States officially for the set
tlement Of the war. The following dav,
Ambassador O'Brien being absent, Post
Wheeler. Secretary of Embassy pre-
scented the offer Of the President 20
Premier Giolitu. who. although appre-
ciating the friendly act regretted he
would be unable to accept it, as peace
was then practically concluded
TAFT MINuT MCnIhTC