The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-12-27
ALLIES PRESENT
THEIR DEMANDS
Turkish ENJOYS Say c''
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London, Dec. 24.-7After several days
of preliminary skirmishing, In accord.
ance with the traditions of Oriental
diplomacy, the Turkish delegates
faced the real attack Of the allies ,at
the fifth meeting of the Balkan peace
conference.
The victorious allies laid their most
important cards on the table. These
were in the form Of territorial condi.
tons which they had agreed to i'm.
pose on the Ottoman empire. The de-
mands as set forth were:
First-The cession by Turkey of all
the territory west of line starting
from point east of Rodesto, on the
Sea of Marmora, to point in the Bay
Of Malaria, on the Black sea. and ex-
Guiding the peninsula Of GallipoN,
AFbania's status to be decided by the
powers.
Second-The cession of the Aegean
islands, occupied by the Greek forces
in the present war and by the Italians
in the recent war.
Third-The cession to Greece of all
Turkish rights in the island of Crete.
The allies did not reveal the ffnan.
cial proposals which they will make to
Turkey, reserving them for a future
meeting.
Before the allies presented their
specifications the Turks announced
that their government was prepared to
proceed with the negotiations, leaving
the question of revictualing Adriano.
pie for discussion between Turkey
and Bulgaria. They abandoned their
previous request to provision Scutaii
and Janina.
The formal conference lasted only
quarter of an hour. The Turks
listened to the proclamation of the
fate of their European empire with
out formal comment and asked for an
adjournment until Saturday to consid-
er the allies demands.
Assert Terms Impossible.
In the informal conversation with
the delegates, which consumed an
hour, they asserted that 1t would be
impossible for them to accept such
terms, but that statement Is inevitable
in meetings of this character and was
expected. sr,s
The allies will recognize the auton-
omy of Albania under the suzerainty
of the porte, but not its sovereignty.
Albania will become what Crete was
and what Egypt is in it's relation to
Turkey. The sultan will be the NOM
inal ruler, but without political, adj
ministrative or military power. He
will have the right to raise his flag in
Albania and appoint resident gov
ernor, but only for the purpose Of rati-
flying the decisions of the local gov.
eminent.
Among diplomats here the opinion
prevails that Notwithstanding what
the Turks consider the unacceptable
conditions presented by the allies,
and what the allies declare are terms
which cannot be reduced, peace ulti-
mately will be concluded. 1t is re-
marked that the allies and the Turks,
when the armistice was concluded.
were in exactly the same position as
the Russians and the Japanese when
the United States induced them to
adhere to the Portsmouth conference,
Both the Turks and Bulgarians at
Tchatalja practically were in state
of exhaustion. Now both have
strengthened themselves, but neither
really is sure what would happen
were the conflict resumed.
Owing to this reciprocal apprehen-
sion an understanding may be reached.
The hardest point Is Adrianople, on
which an agreement between the dele
gates perhaps would be difficult If its
solution were attempted directly by
them. But it may be brought about
through the mediation Of one power
or several powers.