The Washington herald., 1913-04-21
Court Gossip of Interesting
Events on THO Continents

the only commander who, by the machi-
nations OF a political clique at home was
obliged to abandon a policy which ar
other later carried through to success.
In regard to Albania, the absurdity of
the Austrian proposal is plain to create
an independent state out of the innu-
merable petty tribes which inhabit the
country, and which are hopelessly divic-
ed among themselves by religion and
tribal differences, prohibitive of union for
the purpose of self-government What
the proposal really means is the creation
of another Macedonia, which Austria
hopes to convert into another Bosnia,
instead of allowing the country to be
partitioned out between Montenegro, Ser
via, and Greece.
The diplomats of the Ballplatz, how
ever, will have to be careful, for they
viii have to reckon in future with a
strong Servia, and an equally strong
Greece Austria may find the coercion
OF these two little neighbors a harder
nut TO crack than her financiers imagine.
Although Greece and Bulgaria are at log
gerheads over Saloniki, there is no dis
senson, but on the contrary, a complete
understanding between Greece and Ser
via as to what each of them wants and
means to have, notwithstanding the op-
position of Austria.
The Greek victory in Janina will not
make a settlement easier, for the fault
OF the Greeks is national vanity, and
they may overreach themselves. Hap
PLY for them there is a strong man on
the box seat, and as long as M. Venizelos
holds the reins there is no likelihood of
any kicking over the traces when it
comes to the division of the spoils taken
from the fast disintegrating Ottoman
empire.
Since Adrianople, by the decree of the
great powers, was to be given to the al
lies anyway. / fail to comprehend why
the Bulgarians should have made so
great sacrifice of life and vast sums
of money in the three days assault upon
that noble fortress, resulting in its cap
ture and the suicide of its brave CON-
mander
Peace was assured, anyhow. Therefore,
the only plausible explanation of this
desperate charge is that Ferdinand of
Bulgaria meant to enter the peace con-
ference with all the territoy he claims
safely in the hands of his army This,
in short, is the situation. If the powers
succeed in forcing their terms upon Bull
garia, the latter will be compelled t.
make some concession in regard to the
Turkish territory now occupied by it's
victorious forces. But giving up of the
spoils of war will be the basis for a de-
IoT q CASH lnOenlnlIy. HAD tnt
great fortress not been taken, the powers.
no doubt, would have been in a position
10 refuse a. war indemnity to the allies
for territory which they would have {.
eyacuate, but they would have given
them Adrianople instead.
Cases of father and son acting in happy
unison in the British Parliament are not
unknown, although no better instance is
on record than the M
who moved the address in
the Lords, while the son seconded IL in
the Commons. More frequently son and
father have drifted apart in politics and
are to be found on opposite sides. When
Peel entered the House of Commons in
1909 his father. old Sir Robert, went to
Lord Liverpool declaring: MY son is
a young man of rare talents and will one
day play an important part; but know
him well; at bottom his tendencies are
Wing. If we do not Immediately enlist
him in our ranks he will escape from us.
Give him something to do; he will serve
you we'll. but You must make sure of
him without delay
Ten years later the fathers prophecy
had been realized, for Peel was then in
conflict with his father over legislation
involving the affairs of the Bank of Eng
land. The old man, in announcing his
resolve to oppose mis- sons motion in the
House, said that though his son was
deviating from the proper path. his head
and heart would soon recall him to the
right way. Peers reply is among the
classical illusions of son to father when
under the necessity of opposing an au-
thority, to which homage usually has been
shown: my excuse is that l have
great public duty imposed upon me and
that whatever may be my private feel
ings. from that duty / must not shrink
This sounds almost as severe the
words of Brutus the elder on more
tragic occasion. FLANEUR.
Copyright. 1913, b. Court Gos<ip sy.daniAl