The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-18
READY FOR PEACE MEETING.
ALL BALkAN PLENIPOTENTIAR-
les NOW IN LONDON.
Possession OF Adrisnoplc VIII be Prize
Of Diplomscy-Othcr Questions Yet
Unsettled.


London. Dec. i3.-All the plenipo-
tentiaries to the peace conference
which will convene here next week
with the purpose OF ending the Tur-
kish- Balkan war I'm southeastern Eu-
rope are assembled In London. The
Turkish ENJOYS arrived late tonight
and unless the continuance OF hostili-
ties between the Turks and Greeks
should prove a hindrance there seems
nothing In sight to prevent the con-
ference getting down to business i'm
mediately.
With regard TO a report from Con-
stantinopie that the Turks would re-
fuse to meet the Greek pienipoten-
tiaries In London unless Greece signed
the armtistice the other Balkan States
have subscribed to. the councillor 20
the Turkish embassy said tonight he
know nothing OF any such instructions
and did not believe the Greeks would
have come to London unless their
country was prepared to fall In line
with the other Balkan states as to the
terms on which they should meet
The newspaper interviews given by
the Turkish and Bulgarian delegates
on their journey towards London in
dicate that a keen struggle will take
place In the peace conference over the
possession OF Adrianople. The Turks
claim they have 10000 practically
fresh troops behind the Tchatalja
ines while dispatches from Constan-
tinople indicate the war party in the
Turkish capital In gaining influence
No apprehension Is entertained In Dip
lomatic quarters here. however, that
the conference will be separated
without concluding peace. The i'm
portant question has arisen as to
whether Roumania should Join the
ambassadorial conference which will
convene simultaneously with the
peace conference to discuss pending
European questions. The matter still
remains unsettled. but 1t Is said Ger
many. Italy and Austria all favor
Reumania's participation.
Some difference Of opinion as TO
whether this conference should dis
euss the question OF Servian port on
the Adriatic. That weighty matters
will be decided Mt the conference is
evident from the fact that the Aus
trfan and French ambassadors At Lon
don are now on visits to their respec-
tive capitals to get instructions from
their governments. 1t Is reported to-
night that the German ambassador
has gone to Berlin on a similar mis-
sion.
IL Is becoming increasingly probable
that plenary conference OF the
powers will assemble later at Paris to
complete the work OF the ambassa-
doris conference, ratify it's decisions,
etc. In settling the Near Eastern sit
uation.
Formal work OF the peace delegates
Will begin Monday. next. when the
delegates will open discussions which,
II successful. will have the effect of
remaking the map OF the Near East.
When the plenipotentiaries gather
In the historic st. James palace they
Will find themselves amid surround
ings most conductive to peace.
The picture gallery" which has
been selected as the conference room.
is the most secluded apartment In the
palace IL overlooks a century old
grass grown quadrangle entirely shut
on from the turmoil OF the London
streets on the gallery walls are
hung portraits Of all the English SOW
ereigns from Henry VII. with :hat Of
Edward the Peacemaker In a proni-
nent position.
long table stretches down the
middle OF the galleries and or this
are placed silver-mounted portfolios
for all the pl nipotentiaries and mas
sive silver inkstands. which were pre-
sented by Charles III to his private
councillors. The mantelpieccs at
each end Of the gallery are ornar,ent-
ed with quain1 bronze cane clabra, the
principal feature Of which is formed
by massive bronze figures holding
alOft garlands OF peace.