New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-24
Makes Another Plea for Re-
victuaIIing AdrlanopIe, but
Valves Demand as to
SClltari and Yanlna.
AGAIN ASKS FOR TIME
Conference Adjourns Till Sat.
urday to Enable Porte to
Consider Proposed New
Delimitation of
Territory.
p, Cable 20 The Tribune. 7


By Gable 20 The Tribune
London. Dec 34.-After several days
N preliminary skirmishing, in accord
,rce with tho cherished traditions OF
oriental diplomacy, the Turkish dele
..tes Yesterday faced the real attack of
,he Balkan allies at the fifth meeting
If the peace conference. The allies laid
their most important cards on the table.
Those we're in the form Of territorial
ambitions which they had agreed to
;u nose on the Ottoman Empire. The
demands as set forth were:
First: The cession by Turkey OF all
the territory west Of a line starting
from, a point east Of Rodosto, on the
s.a Of Marmora. to point in the Bay
AZ Malaria, on the Black Sea. and ex-
cludins the peninsula Of GsIlipoli; A.
b,ris's status to be decided by the
powers.
Second: The cession of the Aegean
Islands occupied by the Greek forces in
the present war, including Rhodes, and
Of the eleven islands occupied by the
Italians in the recent war.
Third: The cession to Greece OF all
Turkish rights in the island OF Crete
These terms are not altogether sur
prising. They come so very near TO
bag and baggage" terms that II IS
small wonder the Turkish representa-
tive could not conceal his surprise.
Tho line Of the frontier now pro-
pcseJ corresponds roughly to the nm
its Of the conquered territory, leaving
i'm turkish hands the peninsula OF Gal
lipoli which. of course, allows Turkey
to remain in command of the Dardan-
el,cs Bulgaria under this proposal
would get d solid footing on the coast
of the Sea Of Marmora, as we'll as on
the lEgean Sea.
Empire Sadly Shrunk.
The piece OF European territory
which would be left to Turkey oN
such . frontier demarcatiOn is a SAD
shrinkage OF the once great Ottoman
En,pire Up to the suggested line the
country from ConstantinOple is not OF
very great value. large portions OF II
bcinc little better than desert ana
crossed by the worst possible roads
That territory includes well within IT,
a. course. the famous TchataldJa line
If fortiflcations. but as far as can De
Judged from the roughly outlined IRON
tier the best of the new border
strategical points would be in Bull
garian hands.
Turkey is not very likely TO raise
great difficulties with regard TO Crete
nor will the loss Of the .Egean islands
he q sore point with her, though she
is likely to make an effort TO retain
ono mr. two of the larger ones nearest
her shores.
The terms offered by the coaItlon
clearly show that the allies are po'
prepared TO discuss even the question:
Of Adrianople's future, regarding us
cession to Bulgaria as sine qua lloI'
II will require a strong cabinet in Con-
stantinople 10 instruct the ottoman
representatives to sign anything APP
preaching such terms. or course the
slhes may have framed their TERMS
so as to make room for CONCESSIONS
but they are evidently preparing for
The possibility OF Turkey rejecting
them altogether. as Servia is raising
Az Der cent short time loan in London
" five million dollars, TO be issued
at 90.
The allies did not reveal yesterday the
financial proposals which they VIII
make u Turkey, reserving these lor d
future meeting. Before the alnes pre-
sented their specifications YESTERDAY the
Turks announced that their govern
mcnt was prepared TO proceed with the
negotiations. leaving the question Vi
the revictualling Of Adrianople ior uIs
cussion between Turkey and Bulgaria
They abandoned their previous request
10 provision Scutari and Ianlha.
Conference Lasts Fifteen Minutes
1As formal conference lasted only a
quarter Of an hour. The Turks hsteheu
10 the proclamation of the fate OF 'heir
European empire without formal COM
nent and asked for an adjournment.
until Saturday to consider the aiiies
demands. In the informal CONVERSE
ton with the delegates, wnich con-
sunnod IN hour tbev asserted that IL
would be impossible for them TO ac-
copt such terms, but that statement Is
!nevitsb BILE In meetings Of this charac-
ter and was quite expected.
The allies, it is stated, will recognize
the autonomy of Albania under the
suzerainty Of the Porte, but not its
sovereignty. Albania will become what
Crete was and what Egypt is in It's re-
lstion to Turkey The Sultan VIII De
the nominal ruler but without political
administrative or military power. lie
will have the right 10 raise his nag In
Albania and appoint a resident gov
ernor. but only for the purpose OF Iati-
fying the decisions Of the local govern
ment.
All the delegations attended yester-
days session in full force, with their
military and legal advisers ano secre-
taries. Every one appreciated the fact
that the meeting was to marx the
passage Of the deliberations from tne
preliminary stage to that Of real nego-