Valdez daily prospector., 1913-04-23
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1913.
THE MoNTENEGRINS.

ElSnt WafSnlpS, lIlfec ol -AuH- tria, two of Italy, one British,onc German and one French, have be- gun the blockade of port on the Monteneerin seacuaSt. PosslDlE constraint upon Montenegro to compel the abandonment of the siege of ScutarI IS step toward immediate peace. Certainly IL sOWS the seeds of future war. In determining to erect that fictl- tious nationality which they call a free and independent Albania, the powers are proceeding upon the principle that served as the basis of the treaty of Vienna hundred years ago. They draw boundaries and establish nation" alitics with regard only for their own selfish interests.
 ,'>resecing the possible .:'ra- ton of a great Slav empire ill tho Balkans, an empire that for req. sons of race and for other req sons would be under the influ- ence of Russia, Germany at enor- nous cost increases her military force. Austria fears the new Slav empire, too, for it would weaken her control over a great part of her population, and might result in the division of her terri tory. She is of one mind with Germany that the fiction of the Albanian nation must be made at least geographical reality, sundering wedge thrust between the Balkan states. Hence the blockade. We can understand why the German, Austrian and Italian ships are on the Monte- negrin coast. but it is probable that the French and British gOV- ernments have very little heart for the adventure. The absence of Russian ship is on tn" face of the matter significant. The French and the English would be more comfortable, doubtless, if Russia participated in the move, since then it would be one of the six powers acting together.
 Meanwhile Montenegro con- tinues the siege of Scutarl. King Nicholas, in the interview of which we printed a report in our London dispatch recently, eio- quently defended the interests and policy of his little country. The territory for which the Mon- tenrgrins are fighting belonged to their ancestors. II was taken by the Turks, and now after three centuries. they would again come into their own but for the inter- ference of the powers. Of Scutarl King Nicholas says: My ances- tors are buried in that city in the very churches built by lhem.' .' And he adds: "Wc are but fight ing to keep our own.' \ people animated by such spirit will hardly be checked in their under taking by mere blockade dem- onstratiun of force. Yet if force be actually used. if troops be landed. he consequences might be even more serious than Aus tria and Germany are prepared lo meet. At any rate, the real position of Russia would then very promptly be made nkown.
 Meanwhile Inc Balkan allies in their reply to the powers show anything but an asscnting spirit. The Aegean Islands, they insist, shall be ceded by Turkey to the allies; the powers had assumed the settlement of that question themselves. Inasnuch as the Aegean Islands by every rightful title belong to Greece, il is rNl- dent that that question will be one for contention in the peace congress. The allies demand furthermore that they be inform- ed in advance of the frontiers proposed for Albania, and they still insist on a> war indemnity, at. least in principle. When these conditions have been agreed up- on by the powers, the operations of the war will cease. Plainly, the powers are not to have their way, and above all Austria and Germany are not to have theil way, so long as the allies remain ill their present disposition.--Ex