New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-28
PEACE OUTLOOK DARKER
ON AUSTRIAN MENACE
Attitude of Dual Monarchy a
Cause of Concern to Con-
ferreeS in London.
CRlTIClSE TRIPLE ENTENTE
Enslavement of Balkans to the
Triple Alliance Involved
in Question of Port
for Servia.
By Cable 70 The Tribune. ]

BY Cable 70 The Tribune
London, Dec. 28-When the peace
delegates reassemble to-day the ques-
ton before them will be very simple
one. II may be summed up in one
word: Adrianople.
This city is dear TO the Turks on
grounds both of sentiment and self
preservation. 1t was their first Euro
pean capital, it contains the shrine OF
one OF their most famous caliphs, and,
finally. it is essentially a Moslem city
as well as the centre Of a vilayet peo-
pied for the most part by Moslem
peasantry. On the latter ground alone
the Turks feel that their case for the
retention Of the city is unanswerable,
seeing that at the basis of the pro-
posed resettlement in the Near East is
on racial or nationalist self government
lines, but the question has a still more
vital aspect TO the Ottoman state.
Adrianople means elbow room for
Constantinople. and without it the
great city on the Bosporus is not and
can not be worth holding. With the
frontier drawn as the allies propose
halfway between Adrianople and Con-
stantinople the Sultan would only hold
his capital on sufferance and the whole
of his empire would be virtually in
pawn. These are the reasons why the
Turks will not bulge on the question
Of Adrianople.
To-day's meeting may serve TO show
what chance there is of arranging a
compromise, but with both sides appar-
rently determined not to give way on
the main question at issue a break
down of the negotiations is feared,
though the Turks, adopts as they are
in procrastination, will probably decide
to refer the matter again to Constanti-
nople rather than precipitate a crisis.
AS to Austria's Intentions.
Interest, however, has shifted from
this phase Of the situation and is now
centred in the intentions Of Austria
with respect TO the Balkan States.
The peace delegates are prepared to
consider the reply Of the Ottoman gov
eminent and it's counter proposals,
startling though the latter may be, as
simply points for future negotiations.
II is we'll known that Turkey has not
the least hope Of obtaining what she
will demand, and also that she has no
intention of resuming a war which
might result in further disaster to her.
This aspect of the situation seems
TO receive confirmation from the fact
that several attempts have already been
made unofficially by members OF the
Turkish delegation TO get the Monte
negrin, Servian and Greek delegates to
recede from the demand that Adrian
ople be surrendered, promising in re-
turn that Turkey will not object to
their respective enlargement terrific
rally. These advances, together with
reports emanating from Constantinople
that Bulgaria is negotiating directly
with the Porte in the Turkish capital
are considered to indicate a we'll de-
fined attempt to divide the allies.
Allies Stand Together.
The representatives Of the Balkan
States. however, have resisted all the
temptations placed in their way. ana
to-day present as united front as they
did on the first day of the negotiations
and are Just as determined as ever 10
have their own way in concluding
peace.
Instead Of diminishing. excitement IS
growing among the Servian ana
Montenegrin delegations over what are
considered Austria's plans in the Bal
kans. That the Dual Monarchy seems
determined to carry out these plans Is
considered TO be proved by the fact
that 1t has not as yet begun TO de-
mobilize the big army IT recently
called TO the colors. 1t is now con-
sidered certain that at the resumption
Of the ambassadorial conference next
Thursday Austria will urge the repre-
sentatives of Europe to make the terri
tory ~ autonomous Albania as large
as possible, including IN 1t Prisrend'
Djacova and even Scutari.
Meanwhile Austria is tempting
Montenegro by proposing In exchange
for Austria's support and the occupa-
ton of Scutari by Montenegro that 10
Austria be given possession OF the
mountains dominating Cattaro, which
thus would become such an impreg-
nable naval stronghold as to make the
Vienna government the real master OF
the Adriatic Sea.
Italy Opposes Scheme.
Italy. the power chiefly interested,
naturally opposes such scheme as
would give her rival the coveted SUI
premacy on the sea which once was
considered a Venetian lake. Russia
equally is anxious to prevent the Aus
tran project which. if successful, would
sdfe for ever the Muscovite ambition
20 obtain an outlet in the Adriatic.
Montenegro considers that the scheme
would he fatal TO her very existence
The loss Of the mountains above Cat
laro besides depriving her OF a strong
weapon against Austria would put the
country in Austrian hands, as from
these mountains cannon could domi-
nate Cettinje