Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-13
BALKANS And MEDITERRANEAN

The Balkans menace" which has been
the suspended sword over the head of
Europe these many years, has
Sword fallen. Montenegro has let it
-, fall by q declaration Of war on
Eo1ls. Turkey on the Sth instant. the
seventy-first birthday of Nicholas 1, King
of Montenegro.
The casus belli Of Montenegro is con-
tanned in the instructions of that govern
ment to its charge daffaires at Constan-
tinople i'm demanding his passport;
II regret that Montenegro has exhaust
ed without avail all amicable means OF
settling the numerous MISUNDERSTANDING
and conflicts which have constanti!
arisen with the Ottoman empire The
government of Montenegro ceases all re-
lations with the Ottoman empire, etc.
At the same hour in Cettinje the king
himself gave the Turkish envoy his pass
port and hastily left the capital with his
son. Prince Mirko. for the headquarters
Of the army at Podgoritza. Queen Milena
and her daughters babe king and prince
farewell.
A previous dispatch from London. on
the authority Of the Bulgarian embass,
there. prepared MS in a measure for wha'
present crisis is due to the unfultiiled
nromise of the great powers of Europe
The great powers promised long ago. ever
as they promise now. that Turkey Will
establish adequate reforms. But past ex-
periences justify these states in main
tanning that Turkey is inca pable of car
rying out these reforms even II Turkey
We're wiring.
The responsibility for this war of the
Balkan states rests mainly with the Eu-
| IT. cad lx--
erything and fulfilled nothing. The ap-
pearance of the representatives or the
powers on the scene at this late hour is
painfully ridiculous.
An eminent Diplomat is quoted as hav-
ing said Yesterday: Our beautiful Eu-
rOpean diplomacy has been beaten by
the finesse of the Balkanic states, states
that are worn out by Ottoman promises.
The tardy note which the powers de-
sired to present, but did not. is said to be
in substance:
Note of First, the powers dis
n. approve of forS. Second,
AV"eAS' relying upon article XIII
Of the treaty of Berlin. the powers VIII
take upon themselves in the interest OF
the Balkanic populations the realization
of reforms in the administration of Tur-
key in Europe. Third, IL war should
break out the powers will not permit the
result to modify the actual territorial
status quo of Turkey in Europe.
The fact is, the Balkan states lost all
confidence in the European powers when
they tamely submitted to the annexation
of Bosnia Herzegovina. There is but
little doubt that this fragrant violation OF
the treaty of Berlin was the inspiration
IF ha nf
was to be cemented by force OF arms
Bulgaria, it is rumored, signed a treaty
months ago with Servia, Montenegro and
Greece.
At this writing. within twenty-four hours
after the opening fight by Montenegro
and as expected. Bulgaria. Servia and
Greece have declared war against Turkey
their ministers have withdrawn from Con-
stantinOple, and Ferdinand OF Bulgaria,
Peter of Servia and doubtless George OF
Greece are already at the head of their
armies marching toward the Turkish
frontier.
The lamentable unfitness of the Young
Turk to deal with situation by which
the Balkanic confederation might have
been controlled at Constantinople, may
have decided the powers to secretly
agree to support the Balkanic confedera-
ton as the best solution of that troublous
question.
The chances are that Turkey will be
confronts her. There are other forces
too. not yet very apparent. with which
Turkey must deal. Besides, IL Europe
extends her sympathy to the Balkan con-
federation in embryo the necessary money
will be furnished and the corner stone
of the confederation will be laid at Adri-
anople or at Constantinople. Under
which emperor. King Ferdinand or King
Nicholas, it matters little