The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-15
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tons Not to Treat
With Them.
BALKAN ALLIANCE
NOT ENDANGERED
Optinists Expect No Break in
London Peace Negotiations and
Believe That Amicable Terms
Will Be Arranged Speedily.
Meeting Begins in Lon
don This Week.

Especial Cable TO The Times-Dispatch.)
London, December 14.-With every
thing ready for the formal opening OF
the Turkish Balkan peace conference
at St James Palace. diplomats and IN
lockers in the wal game were chiefly
Interested in the attitude toward each
other of Turkey and Greece.
The Greek government, so far as
was known. has neither sign ID the
protocol of Baghtche nor made another
armistice agreement with the Ottoman
government Yet the Greek ENJOYS
expect TO enter the conference which
will be opened by an address by Sir
Edward Grey. Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs. who already has
greeted the peace plenipotentiaries at
the Foreign Office.
That there was no misunderstanding
among Greece and the Balkan states
and that the alliance was IN no dam
ger of disintegration. as dispatches
emanating from Constantino ple stated.
was evidenced by the following semi
official statement. published in Athens:
The fact that Greece has not signed
the armistice should not be interpre-
ted a proof OF dissension among
the allies. According TO explanations
furnished here. Greece was particularly
anxious that her naval action should
not be interrupted. in order that the
revictualing of the Turkish fo-tresses
in Epirus should not be rendered pos
sibie. Greece was considering the in
terests of all her allies rather than her
own. The alliance is intact. and with
II have been preserved the chances OF
peace. which would have suffered with
the reinforcement OF the Dardanelles
and the Tchatalja garrisons. 1t has
been shown by the recent Turkish
! Italian treaty that such agreements
/ need MT necessarily be preceded by
an armistiee, and 81 Is officially az =
/ nounced that the Greek plenipoter-
I tiaries will participate in the London
peace negotiations"
The foregoing explanation OF the
Greek attitude. coupled with the Porte's
withdrawal of it's instructions TO
Rechid Pasha- chief OF the Turkish
ENJOYS. not to treat with Greece until
that nation signed the protocol leads
the optimists to believe there will be
no break IN the negotiations.
Greek Premier steps Aside.
The delegates OF the allies held a
meeting at midnight last night. and
on motion Of NJ Venizelos. the Greek
Premier. decided TO propose that VI.
Stojan- Vovakovitch, the former Ser
Wan Prime Minister. act as presiding
had previously been thought that VI.
Venizelos would be chosen as presid
ing officer. but on account Of the pecu
liar condition between Greece and
Turkey. he decided to withdraw.
The negotiations of the delegates
Will be conducted in secret but IL is
possible that IL may be decided to
issue official statements from time TO
time during the meetings.
The conference will open on Tues
day at St James's Palace The allies
will present the totally Of their de-
nands 70 Turkey. and will divide the
booty among themselves later when a
treaty has been signed
The delegation from Turkey is IN
compromisingly firm in declaring that
Adrianople must be retained as Turk
ish territory. In regard to other mat
tiers. the Turkish Observation-Disclosures
have assumed a conciliatory attitude. /
Austria. Germany and Italy are de-
sirous that Roumania be admitted to
the conference of ambassadors of the
powers which will take place during
the peace negotiations. Russia. how
ever. is d'scountenancing this idea on
what seems to be formal grounds.
Bulgaria declines to enter into any
negotiations with Roumania to settle
her differences with that country until
after the peace conference. when il
will be known what she has gained
from Turkey. The powers are en-
deavoring to influence the belligerents
to reach an amicable agreement. and
the probabilities Of the successful
conclusion OF the associations are in
creasinC despite the formidable OBJ
stacles which are known to be ahead.
The dispute between Austria and
Servia over the treatment OF Consul
PrOchssk the Austrian representative
at Prisend. which has irrita;ed the
dual monarchy. and also in regard
to port on the Adriatic for the serbs. /
Is absolutely stationary.
II was regarded as true that Bull !
garia was seeking to join the triple
alliance. the confederation or Ger
many. Ttaiv and Austria Hungary. ana
the visit TO Premier Poincare. IN Paris.
by NJ Danefr. Bulgarian peace envoy.
Therefore was not understood in diplo-
matte circles. France is member. as
Is England and Russia % the triple
entente
Prom Vienna IL was learned that
King Ferdinand Of Bulgaria had made
. hurried trip from Sofia TO the Aus
tria- Hungarian capital. and that ne
intirnated that his government bad al
most reached an agreement with the
dual monarchy.
THAT the negotiations will be long
--axn out Is admitted. but that peace
eventually will be arranged Is not
doubted in any quarter. NATURALLY.
say the diplomats. ali parties 70 inc
conference will put forward large
initial demands which they DO not hope
90 have net. When their demands
have been scaled down they hope TO
have set wha; they really expected 90
x.t out Of the bargain.
Exchange OF Fire.
Constantinople. December 1f--There
was an exchange Of ere to-day be-