New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-17
BEGINNING MADE IN
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

confirmed, but there are indications Of
relaxation in the Austro- Servian diff
Guilty.
The Austrian Emperor is credited
with remarking that he was hopeful of
the ability of Austria to carry out her
Balkan programme in Its entirety with
out resort to force.
The feature of the day was the ad-
dress Of welcome delivered by Sir Ed
ward Grey, British Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, who was elected
honorary president of the conference.
The responses of the heads Of the va
rious delegations indicated desire to
accomplish the purpose for which the
conference is being held.
All the delegates applauded Sir Ed
ward Grey's speech. which evidently,
like his statement in the House OF
Commons on Wednesday, aimed at inn
partially The Balkan delegates, how
ever are seemingly more satisfied with
its substance than the Turks. In the
7
foundations on which I trust Will be
built by true wisdom and statesman
ship the prosperity, moral, economic
and national. of your respective coun-
| tries" they see a plain allusion to their
/ states. as they are fighting for the
/ principle Of nationality and they are
/ trying to upbuild the moral and econ
omic properties of their countries,
while for Turkey 1t is a question Of
/ general demolition. Thus they think
! that the British Foreign Secretary,
/ Notwithstanding his efforts at Impair
/ TALLY, could not help-perhaps uncon-
sciously-but give hint on which side
his sympathies are.
Looked in Each Others Eyes.
In his reply DR.. Daneff, of the Bull
/ garian delegation, emphasized Sir Ed
wards utterance when he said that
the conference would work ito insure
the Balkan States, so troubled in the
past. an era of tranquility
and progress which is considered rs
meaning without Turkey.
Speaking of the first meeting of the
conference. Count Devoinovich. n Mon
tenegrin delegate. said: To-day We
simply looked into each others eyes"
Sir Edward Grey addressed the dele
gates as follows:
Gentlemen: His majesty the Kins de-
, sires me 10 convey 10 YOU his welcome
J and 10 express his best wishes for the
/ success of Your labors. II is my agree
a bic duty TO welcome YOU on behalf Of
his majeStys government and TO say
with what pleasure your presence Is re-
Carded in this country. His majesty the
King. being anxious TO facilitate your
task in every way. has placed these
rooms in St Jamess Palace at your dis
pOsal I trust you VIII find them suit
able, and at the same time j assure you
that his maiesty's government will do
all in its power TO promote your conven-
fence
You will. ] believe. find in this country
an atmosphere Of calm and impartiality
that viii be favorable to your work. and
within these rooms which you occupy
YOU will be really on neutral ground,
whore there will be no politics except
your own.
There are difficulties in all negotia-
tious for peace after a war. l viii not
attempt to estimate what they may be
the subject Of full instructions TO each
set of delegates from their respective
governments. but there can bc no nobler
task than to overcome these difficulties
and 10 accomplish peace as result OF
YOUR own efforts and your own work. In
/ this way you will lay foundations on
which ] trust will be built by true wis
, dom and craftsmanship the prosperity
moral. economical and national. Of your
respective countries. Without that
craftsmanship the gains of war are OF
little or no worth 70 future generations.
/ With that craftsmanship the losses OF
war can be repaired and bitterness
merged in the realization of the bless
! ings of peace.
/ will say no more except 10 wish you
success in your task and TO assure YOU
/ that YOU have the good will Of every
1 one in the object for which you have as
sembled here. and that by accomplish
I inis peace YOU will secure the respect
/ of the whole Of Europe.
/ The chief Of each delegation cordially
acknowledged the welcome and the
sentiments expressed by Sir Edward
! Grey, who was unanimously elected TO
7 the honorary presidency Of the con-
ference.
The British Foreign Secretary thea
/ 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.
The first encounter between the allies
and the Turks will begin tomorrow.
A climax will be reached when both
sides exchange their respective propo-
sitions for the conclusion of peace. The
terms Of the allies are:
The immediate surrender Of the Turkish
! fortresses OF Scutar, Adranople and Va
nina, to the garrlsons Of which full MILL
tary honors will be granted;
The evacuation OF Eastern Europe by
line 70 be deln1lted on the spot.
| The cession 20 Greece Of all the Aegean
She The annexation Of Crete to Greece.
| The payment by Turkey Of war In
d.mnlty and OF tie expenses Incurred by
the allies on account Of the Turkish pris-
The allies in return are prepared to
grant:
Complete amnesty to the Mussuiman
| nonulatIon In the territories they annex
| Ter snv acts OF hostility during the war.
| The return Of all prisoners.
| The recognition Of the spiritual sover-
| .Jontv of the Sultan over Ottomsns be-
cornIno subjects Of the Balkan States, and
the free administration by the Mussul-
mans Of their pIous foundations IN me
| Balkans
To these conditions has now been
| .-Y-s-,, quar- nv tho PaIka N