The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-16
Sessions Will Probably Be Held in the Historic St.
 James Palace
DELEGATES SPEND
 A QUIET SUNDAY
Balkan Delegates Think Austro Ser vian Controversy a Bluff--Vi. enna Has Troubles at Home.
 Nothing New Occurs

London, December 15.--Dr. Danen head of the Bulgarian penipotentiaries. re- turned to London from Paris late to- night, and the peace conference is ex- peoted to open tomorrow at noon. Sir Edward Grey. the British secretary for foreign affairs, will make a brief speech of welcome and after expressing inc hope of a fruitful end of their labors he will retire and leave the conference to de- llberate in private.
 Tho sessions will be held in the historic St. James palace, where the picture gal lery' has been selected as the confer ence room. IL is secluded apartment and entirely shut off from the noise of the London streets.
 Quiet Day Yesterday
 The delegates spent Q quiet day San- day. Nothing has transpired yet to show that any serious difficulty is likely to arise over the attendance of Greek delegates. Concerning that Austro Ser vian controversy, thet Balkan delegates think the result of Austrian bluff. They say:
 Vienna having seen her traditional programme of gradually extending through the Balkan states to salonild completely wrecked, has tried to coun- terbalance the bad effect it has mad 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 Adriatie coast rauch less Seryia, as Servia means Russia.
 What does Montenegro represent? ?" asked one of the delegates laughing. to which Scutari will soon be added. 1t being no mystery to anybody that the small kingdom can be considered almost as a Russian province and the Montene- grin army as a contingent of the Mus coVite forces"
 Regarding Austria
 According to the Balkan aele.sates. Ausu'ia's increased armalnents and the practical mobilization of her army are due less 10 the probability of declaring war against Serva than to the grave international situation in the monarchy, the unrest in Hungary and the agitation among Servians, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina. where even those holding positions under the Austrian government
 
 tude of the empire. An additional cause for concern is the threatening attitude of the Slavs generally throughout Aus trlan territory which caused the dissou- tion of the municipalities of Sebenicu Spalato and Zara, on the charge Of be- ing anti-Austrian
 Vienna" the Balkan delegates cun- tinue, "has too many troubles at home to think seriously of war, for which she Is fiQHngg 1lNr e, by the loan recently concluded in the United states at a rate of interest higher than any great power has paid in late years.
 Besides, Germany, notwithstanding her alliance has exercised an influence tending to moderate Austrian ardor.
 Admitting, however. q coup q etat on the part of Austria, we certainly know that neither Servia nor any other of tue Balkan states would be left alone as Russia would come to their assistance, being today no more the Russia of the war with Japan, and, indeed anxious 10 show what she can do in Europe.
 At the time of the annexation Of Bos- nla and Herzegovina, the Russian en- peror himself was on point of sending an ultimatum to Austria which would have led to war, but he was prevented from so doing through the friendly interven- ton of King Edward It 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 confiagra- ton which all are more interested to prevent than to hasten and which will not be brought about for a relatively in- significant cause such as allowing Ser via to have a strip of land along the southern frontier of Monteneuro ana a small stretch of coast on the Adrlatie.,'