The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-03
THE BALKAN INQUIRY.

The dispatches have told in n general
way that committee under the auspi-
ces of the Carnegie Fund for the
Promotion of International Peace lie to
investigate the atrocities charged
against the Bulgarlans in the recent
war in the Balkans; but q fuller ex-
planation as to what is to be done
shows that the inquiry is to be very
broad one, and that the inquiry into
the atrocities is only part of the work
of the commission appointed to inves-
tigate.
What will be inquired into is, first.
the reasons for the outbreak Of the sec
ond Balkan war, and on whom the re-
sponsibihty rests for beginning it. Sec
ond, the truth or falsity of reports of
outrages committed during the war by
the combatants of all the forces in
volved. especially the mutilation OF
| captives, outrages on women, and the
destruction Of private property. Third,
the economic waste involved.
Tt will be noted that the work Of this
commission, under the programme as
laid down, will take no account OF the
original war in the Balkans, which be-
| gan last fall and in which Bulgaria,
Servia, Greece, and Montenegro CO.
operated against Turkey. Presumably
| it will have nothing to do with the al
legged outrages committed during that
war It's functions will be confined TO
| the second war. which it is understood
was forced and begun by Bulgaria, and
the outrages committed during that war,
together with the economic waste in
volved therein, Singularly enough, it is
stated that Bulgaria is asking for this
investigation, and basing its request on
the explicit charges made during the
recent fighting among the allies and in
dorsed by the King Of Greece, involv~
ing barbarous outrages committed by
the retreating Bulgarians. These
charges were made very specific by the
King of Greece, and were as specifi
cally and explicitly denied by the Bul
garians.
But even though the Bulgarians may
have asked for the Investigation in the
matter of the outrages, and though Bull
garia pleads not guilty, it is a clear
case that it did not ask to have the in,
vestigation broadened in the way that
it has been; for Bulgaria may make
| showing against the charges of out
RACES, but it can hardly expect to make
any showing against its own RESPONSE
billty for the beginning of this second
Balkan war. Much less can Bulgaria
expect to show any palhation with re
spect to the specific charges of economic
waste. But II has been reserved for
Servia to file objection TO the whole
procedure because Of her antjpathy 70
the Russian member of the commission
of inquiry. for no better reason than
that he is opposed to the extreme
views of the Servian optimists; an
objection which has nothing whatever
to do with the matter, and will prob
ably amount 10 nothing.
President Butler of Columbia Univer.
sity has been active in This movement,
and in the selection Of he committee
which will make the investigations The
membership Of that committee is thus
announced; Dr.. N. Braisford rcpre.
seDting Great Britain. and who is
well-knowD writer on Balkan affairs:
Professor Samuel Train Dutton OF Co
lumbia University, representing the
United States, and probably Inc per
II. r. ID
Godart. member of the French Cham
Der of deputies. representing France:
Professor Paul Milukoff. leader of the
Constitutional Democrats in the Rus.
sian Duma representing Russia. Pro
fessor Pazskowski of Berlin Univer.
sity. representing Germany. and Pro
fessor Redlich Of he Rcic hsrath. repre-.
scntiug Austria. II j. a commission of
the highest possible character. and its
results ought TO. and undoubt cdlv will.
receive rhe confidence of the civilized
world
Ii is TO he hoped that this commits.
sion will get speedily 20 work, and will
finish the taking Of testimony and
make it's report within reasona bic
| time The whole matter i. fresh. and
witnesses ought 10 ne easily procur.
a BILE. 50 that the public might reason
ably expect 10 have its desire gratified
tuat the commission viii act rapidly.
and report with as much dispatch as
possible; for in n matter Of this kind
speed III getting al results and locating
responsibility Is about az desirable as
thc main question itsrt.