New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-31

/ "'iS safes III London. and will meet ut
an early hour on Wednesday to decide
on their policy.
The next move at Wednesdays meet
J ING may bring the conference TO a
crlsls. Although the Balkan delegates
| declare that they have no wish to break
up the conference they state that they
I nave no intention of being made
/ laughing stock of the world by allow
ing themselves TO participate in pro-
ceedings which they compare with those
of comic opera.
Therefore they are determined 10
bring quite clearly before the Turkish
mission the impossibility of further
delay. AS TO the suggestion that the
I questions under discussion should be
referred TO the powers, the Balkan dip
lomatists point out that il is well
understood that there are some matters
on which the powers will have to give
a final decision. but on the other hand
mat there are questions with which the
powers have nothing TO do. Among the
latter are the terms Of peace between
! Turkey. and the allies.
/ Meanwhile the report is current in
Belgrade that the Ministry for War has
received telegram stating that Sou
tart has fallen to Servian attack. This
scarcely appears probable in view of
the cessation of hostilities, but IL is
quite possible that the fortress may
have been starved into surrendering
Mediation has two advantages from
the Turkish point of view. The FIST
is that the tendency of such an ar
rangement always is in the direction
OF a compromise. In the second place
mediation would save the Turkish
governments prestige in the eyes Of
the people BY making it appear that
Turkey comedies the sacrifices. which
she inevitably must make. 10 the
pressure of all Europe, instead of ut
the dlctation of the heretofore de-
! spised Balkan States.
| Inc frst consideration from the
point Of view of the allies is opposed
to their interests. Such solution IS
mediation offers would be Of further
| disadvantage 10 them, i'm that certain
| powers-Austria and Italy-ceuld not
be considered as disinterested arbi-
| traitors
The Turkish design in presenting
counter proposals which left an enor-
nous gulf between them and the allies
proposals was to create a situation in
which mediation would appear justifia-
Dle-eNen necessary. Their argument
is that never since the beginning OF
the world has a mediator intrusted
with difficult problem by conflicting
parties given verdict entirely favora-
| bic 10 one side without compensation
to the other. Therefore. it would be
easier 10 recoup part Of their losses
through mediation than by dealing di-
rectly with their sdversaries.
Sop to MussuInoan Population.
The capital argument remains that, |
whatever Turkey would be forced TO |
cede, her Mussulman population. par
'icularly the semi barbarous tribes OF i
Arabia and An9tolia would swallow /
the bitter pill with fewer grimaces IL 1
convinced it was administered by a |
coalition of the whole OF Europe. in
stead OF by the vassal states Of Bull |
garia and Servia.
In the camp of the allies the proposaI
in hoa
varying degrees OF dissatisfaction. All
are agreed that mediation would be |
possible of acceptance only If the au-
thority intrusted 10 the mediators was
Of such limits that it would be impos-
sible TO deprive the victors OF conauests |
rightfully gained that it must be me-
diation, taking into account the present |
status OF the belligerents, not the ante
bellum states. and, above all that il |
must be mediation. not arbitration.
Arbitration, it is pointed out. was
possible before the conflict, not after !
ward. unless in questions Of detail. |
such as the delimitation of frontiers
not we'll defined by ethnographical
landmarks.
Servia and Montenegro are most dis
satisfied OF all, in the belief that II will |
be impossible to secure impartial medi-
alton by the powers. which include
Austria. a nation which has shown in
the past and Is showing now such a
threatening attitude against what these
states assert is legitimate aspiration.
Austria Interested Party.
Austria, according to them. can prac-
tically be considered an interested
party herself. as she has proclaimed
the inviolabihty Of Albania, forcing the
Servians and Montenegrins TO abandon
the Adriatic coast already occupied.
and has declared the necessity Of ex-
tending the frontiers Of Albania to such
a degree as has never previously been
considered for the sole purpose OF de-
priving Servia and Montenegro OF ter
ritories which they have conquered
Conceding that Austria does not wish