The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-12-19
DELEGATES
OPEN CONFERENCE
Demand Surrender of Adrian.
ople and Scntari and Evacua-
ton Of Eastern Europe.

-
constantinople, Dec. 17.-Ths
Turkish fleet engaged the Greek
fleet OFF the island OF Lemnos this
morning, according to an official
telegram from h Dardanelles.
The Greek fleet was compelled 10
withdraw from the action.
London. Dec. 17.-The first brief
meeting OF the peace plenipotentiaries,
problem, was permeated with good will
and desire to achieve success. Mondays
discussions were devoted solely to
questions Of procedure, The Turkish
delegates. it Is understood, agreed to
forego their threatened opposition to
Greek participation in the conference
before the Greeks had signed an arnnis-
tice.
The question Of Adrianople is likely
to be the first real business of the corl-
clave and that will bring up the most
critical point, for. unless Turkey yields
the fortress to Bulgaria war will re-
commence according to Dr. Daneff,
head of h Bulgarian delegation.
Proposed Peace Terms.
The principal conditions of peace de-
Inanded by the allies comprise the Inn
Meulate SURRENDER OF the IurklSn Tor
tresses of Scutari, Adrianople and
J%anina. whose garrisons Will be
granted full military honors: the
evacuation of eastern Europe by
Turkey az far east as Tchatalja to a
line to be delimited on the spot; the
islands; the annexation OF Crete to
Greece and the payment by Turkey OF
q war Indemnity and OF the expenses
incurred by the allies on accoun Of
the Turkish prisoners.
The allies in return are prepared to
ran complete amnesty to the Mus
sulman population in the territory they
annex, for any acts of hostility during
the war; the return of all prisoners;
the recognition of the spiritual SOW
ereignty of the sultan over Ottomans
becoming subjects of the Balkan states
n the free administration by the
Mussulmans of their pious foundations
in the Balkans.
The plenipotentiaries were welcomed
by Sir Edward Grey, the British for
eign minister. His address was brief,
but full of sympathy and good wishes
for the success of the gathering.
His majesty, the king, desires me
to convey to you his welcome and to
express his best wishes for the success
of YOU labors,i said Sir Edward. ssIt
is my agreeable duty to welcome you
on behalf of his majesty's government
and to say with what pleasure your
presence is regarded in this country.
His majesty, the king. being anxious
to facilitate your task in every way.
has placed these rooms in st. James
palace at your disposal. I trust you
will find them suitable and at the
same time / assure you that his
maJesty's government will do all in Its
power to promote your convenience.
There are differences in all negotia-
tons for peace after a war. 1 will not
attempt to estimate what they may be
In your case There have been. no
doubt, full instructions to each set OF
delegates from their respective gov
ernmerts; but there can be no nobler
task than to overcome these difficulties
n to accomplish peace as a result of
your own efforts and your own work.
The losse: OF war can easily be re-
paired and bitterness merged in the
realization of the blessings of peace"
n chief of each delegation cordially
acknowledged the welcome and the
sentiment expressed by Sir Edward
Grey, who was unanimously elected to
the honorary presidency of the confer
nee .
left the gallery and the plenipoten-
tiaries set about the task of arranging
the questions of the craftsmanship, the
procedure, the language, ETC., of the
conference.
Considering its historic character the
Clll manly ~ llllJS
public attention. Some hundreds of re-
porters and photographers and a few
of the general public gathered in the
vicinity of st. James palace. Other
wise nothing beyond the extra squads
of policemen indicated anything out OF
the common.
Every Precaution Taken.
Rigorous precautions have beer
taken to prevent the neal approach
of strangers to the quadrangle of the
palace. A strong force of police hal
been stationed about the ancient arch
way and will remain on duty during
the conference.
The negotiators sat for only an hour
and a half and then adjourned fol
lunch, which was served in a room
adjoining the conference chamber.
The delegates OF the Balkan states
before entering the conference cham
Der declared that within this week
either Turkey will find a way to sur
render Adrianople or the var will be
resumed. They believe hat Turkey
will! yield unless she is impelled tc
resistance by Austrian and German
support.
Demands Of the Allies.
The main conditions of the allies in.
clude the immediate surrender OF
Scutar:. Adrianople and Janina, the
garrisons of which will be granted full
military honors; the evacuation Of
l eastern EUROPE pS Turkey as lar as
East TchatalJa to a line which tx.
perts appointed by the contracting
parties will deiimit on the spot Tho
cession to Greece of all the Aegean
Islands. including Rhodes and Il Others
which italy is keeping as Il pledge fol
Turkish fulfillment of the treaty O.
Lausanne: the annexation of Crete t.
Greece and the payment of Il war in.
demnity and the expenses sustained or
account of the Ottoman prisoners. II
return the allies will grant complet
amnesty to the Mussulman population
in the territories they annex for anS
acts of hostility during the war; thu
return of all prisoners; the recogni
ton of the spiritual sovereignty of the
sultan over Ottomans becoming sub.
jects of The Balkan states, and tn.
free administration by the Mussulmans
Of their pious funds in the Balkans.
The Servian ex-premier, Stojan No.
vakovitch, head of the Servian pleni
p~ctentiaries, Informed the Associated
Press that ne vas satisfied an agree
ment would be reached on the ques
/ finp ~ on A1ftatf, ynrt nr ,,,L;al