New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-20
TURKS AGAIN DEFER
SITTING IN CONFERENCE
Plead Dispatch of instructions
by Courier from Constantine
pIe as Reason for Delay.
FIRM AS TO ADRIAN0PLE
Minimum Demands of Balkan
Allies and Maximum Offer
of Ottoman Delegates
Still Far Apart.


London. Dec. 20-The peace confer
cnce held a brief session yesterday !
The Turkish delegates announced that
fresh instructions had been dispatched |
from Constantinople by special courier;
therefore adjournment until Saturday
was taken. by which time the instruc-
lions should reach London.
News last night from the ottoman
capital was to the effect that the gov
eminent is empowering the delegates
TO proceed with the negotiations with
the Greek as well as with the Balkan
plenipotentiaries This decision tends
toard peace, as there has been sus-
picion that the Turks were vancouver
ing for time. so that they might
strengthen their army.
The Ottoman government is reporteu
to have authorized its delegates 10 pro-
nose at the next session Of the CONFER
ence that Adrianople and all the other
besieged Turkish towns shall be re-
victualled. and If the proposal IS not
accepted by the delegates Of the Balkan
allies. TO break off negotiations.
1t is thought here that should Tur-
kew carry her point in regard TO re-
victuaning the garrison of Adrianople
IT would imply that the possession OF
that fortress would ultimately remain
with the Turks.
Gulf Difficulty to Bridge.
Without outside mediation 1t appears
impossible now to bridge the gulf d.
viding the minimum demands OF the
allied Balkan nations and'the maximum
offer of the Turks, if these demands ana
this offer are to be accepted at their
face values.
The conference is now in exactly the
same position as the Portsmouth con-
ference after the first weeks Work
The different parties are daily feeling
the ground before striking a decisive
blow.
Rachad Pacha strongly recalls Count
Whites shrewdness, while the Greek
Premier Venizelos can be compared
with Komura on account Of his cool at
titude and unshakable calmness. There
are other Very Interesting personalities
DR.. Daneff, chief of the Bulgarians, is
like an American politician; Novako-
vich, the ex-Premier Of Seryia, is an
experienced statesman: the Montene-
Miyuskovich keen diplomatist
After yesterdays sitting some of the
Balkan delegates expressed disgust at
the way affairs were dragging, while
five armies and three besieged cities
were enduring all the sufferings of war
and the respective countries were a
prey to desolation, misery and death
A Bulgarian delegate observed that
the Turks would find themselves much
mistaken If they delayed the confer
ence in the hope Of strengthening their
army with troops from Asia. These
achievements were chiefly composed
Of undisciplined Bash Bazouks, who
would prove a serious danger not to
The enemy, but 10 the Turks them
belves.
In the mean time the allies are con-
rentrating greater forces along the
Tchataldja front TO enable them. If war
Is resumed, to arrive at Constantinople
within a few days.
To Provoke Intervention.
The prevailing opinion is that the va
rious postponements have been made
with the Interior object of provoking
intervention by the powers. Turkey
hopes to obtain better terms through
the powers, some OF whom have vital
interests in the ottoman Empire. Be
sides. Turkey would consider it less
humiliating to cede territory on pres
sure from the powers than at the com
nand of those Balkan States which
were depicted to the Mussulman world
until recently as negligible quantities.
Criticism for Italy.
The Balkan delegates, especially the
Servians and Montenegrins, express
dissatisfaction with the statement
made on Wednesday by Marquis di San
Giuliano. the Italian Foreign Minister,
concerning the aims of the Triple ALI
ance. and remarked that Italy held
UNIQUE position toward the Balkan
states. having herself risen from moth
ing to nationality through the union
Of kingdoms. They expected her sup
port in a similar movement by the Bal
kans. whose resurrection is now oc-
curing as predicted by the great Itai-
ian thinker and agitator, Giuseppe
Mazzini, when, in his Slav letters in the
middle Of the nineteenth century, he
foresaw the Balkan peoples uniting to
expel Turkey from Europe.
In voicing their objections, these dele
gates point out that the Italian gov
ornment has followed a policy strongly
favorable 30 Austria by renewing the
Triple Alliance seven months before
the date of its expiration, and has made
its statement thereon just at the mo-