Evening star., 1912-11-03
THE BALKAN WAR AND DIPLOMACY

herself in 1880 Turkey had never at
tempted a single reform,
The Gauois OF Paris has interviewed
a foreign diplomat of distinction. The
subject was entered upon hy the inter-
viewer; Diplomacy has il not failed?
Has II prevented was?" And the dipl6-
mat replied "It has not prevented war,
that is true. But il has foreseen war.
Diplomats are necessary notwithstaud-
ing that affairs are arranged more and
more in the street. Diplomats are the
priests of a cult whose mystery mystites
and moves the people. In the congress
of Berlin. seen from the outside, IL was
assumed that the members had faith in
their work. Did they have faith? Alas!
no. They knew the question OF the
orient was not settled. After San Stefanc.
Berlin. But after Berlin the upset. and
now. the ditch,'
Italy was sure OF Russia. Mysterious
affinity that, which was established three
years ago at Racconigi in few hours
between the Emperor OF Russia and the
King of Italy. From that interview there
came the Balkanic entente.
Did the diplomat consider the Balkanic
quadruplice as known to Italy and TO
Russia from its inception? Did his inter-
iocutor suppose that this profound move
ment was not known to other chancellor
les? The diplomat insisted that this
groupment could not have been avoided.
The alliance of the powers OF which
worth in time OF war? In peace 1t was
a cause Of paralysis. If France had
adhered to the Russo-Italian entente
England would not have followed. At
London they are Turks. To speak OF the
Balkanic entente would have put fire
at once to the entente. Must IL he con-
cluded that Italy will aid the Balkanio
states? That would depend upon their
success.
But what of Turkey? Turkey since she
has had a constitution is changed Shs
feels that she is hunted down. Tho
Turks know that every time she is saved
she is diminished
Did the diplomat believe that Europe
could stop the war? IL was necessary first
that the powers would wish to stop it
unanimously. There were two hypothe-
ses: A Turkish victory? In this case
English and Germans would rush TO tho
aid of that victory. \ Bulgarian vic
tory Russia would lead the victorious
under her flag.
s x
But the grave and alarming conclusion
according to the diplomat was. who
would say to the victor
Who Will Hands Off? Did the
Intervene uae ,nrerioru'or r,s see S,n,ona, ,n.s
did not. And then?
In a recent article before the war, in
Menshikoff advanced the idea that d.
plomacy had foreseen the possibility that
the Bulgarians would besiege Constanti-
nople and that Europe would be ready 10
concede Constantinop.e to the Bulgarians
IL the Bulgarians should show themselves
able to take 1t. Austria Hungary would
find compensation in Saloniki, and Rus
sia also in Armenia. According to the
writer there exists AN Austro- Russian
entente in Balkanic affairs The chan
celleries of Europe. were they in accord!
There had been phenomena more sur
prising. Such an accord would be at any
rate peaceful and would explain In the
evolution of the actual crisis very many
obscure points. NJ. Menshkoff affirmed.
seriously, that King Ferdinand of Bull
garia had visited Vienna frequently OF
late in the greatest secrecy and that he
brought back with him formal guaran-
tees.
Diplomacy. it is incontestable. has mis-
erably failed to perform Its legitimate
Office. In the present case when Turkey
refused to execute the reforms in Mace
donia the powers should have taken
over the affair themselves. Turkey
would not perform her duty; the pow
ers would perform ii for her and at the
same time definitely settle this ques-
ton of the orient which has been the
nightmare Of Europe.
The authority of Europe was con-
ferred by the famous article % OF the
treaty of Berlin of 1878. This article
23 stipulates that organic rules exactly
adapted to local wants will be intro
duced In all the regions of Turkey in
Europe and that the details of these
rules would be established by special
commissions in which the native ele-
ment of these regions would be largely
represented.
The revolution in Turkey of 1908 did
not abrogate the rights of control or
Eh a
in Europe. The Temps of October
published diplomatic document which
has remained secret. The publication
is a circular addressed by Russia To
the powers dated July 25, 1908, which
received the adhesion OF all the in
terested governments / cite there
from because of its actual Importance
In the preamble the document explained
that the suspension OF the authority or
the powers was due TO their mutual
desire to permit Turkey to execute the
reforms herself. What naivete. AS II
Turkey would reform anything. The
document said.
TT should be understood that the
desistance of Russia and the o.h,r
powers was not a.
powers' RIGHTS solute; the riSh
acquired by the
4nCacL. treaties and the ad-
yantages assured to the Macedonian
population by virtue of what was
agreed between the cabinets and the
sublime porte, based upon these treaues'
are and remain absolutely intact
..Russia will follow With the most SYM
nathetic attention the efforts Of Turkey
to assure the working of the new regime.
she will abstain, Tor her part, from al
interference which might compicate that
task and viii exercise all her influence
in order to anticipate and prevent any
disturbing action on the part OF the BAL
kanic states.
but, faithful to the traditions OF her
policy she will not consider her role or
reformer likewise that of other powers.
as terminable except that the work un-
dertaken by the sultan will end in a
real amelioration OF the state or Things
in observation-disclosures which should
have for its first effect TO put an end IN
the Balkanic countries 10 natural dis
quiet essentially dangerous for the gem
eral peace:
I'm a word Russia cannot renouSce the
faculty 10 appreciate If the reform con-
ferred by the sultan attdins the desired
degree of efficacy, and If ii Is found that
the situation Of the European provinces
of Turkey remains in a precarious state
she will notify the powers of the neces-
sity of taking up anew and in a most
resolute manner the work actually in