Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18


the political atmosphere
Way to Peace and gives place to dip
r. Claer>a lomatic action which
has been virtually held
In check by the renewed hostilities in
Thrace and at scutari
The joint note of the powers, Great
Britain. France. Russia, Germany, Aus.
,tria-Hungary and Italy. informed Turkey
OF the acceptance by the allies OF their
proposition as a basis of peace. A subse-
auent note requested the porte to name
plenipotentiaries and to designate the
time and place of meeting. In the mean
time hostilities were to be suspended.
A dispatch from Sofia the 18th instant
announced that the allies had ceased
hos,ilities as requested. and, agreeing to
London as the meeting place for peace
conference. would send there the same
plenipotentiar:es who represented them
formerly.
Much ado is made in the press of Lon
don and Vienna over the affected antici-
patton of trouble which is to occur
in the conference of the allies for the par
tition OF Turkey. This anticipation is so
full OF promise OF a row that the Jealous
partisans have already sent long dis
between Servians and Greeks on the one
side against Bulgaria on the other-im-
aginary battles. of course, invented for
some unavowable object.
NJ Soukoulis. the Greek delegate to the
peace conference. has formally denied. as
charged. that Greece had
Servia and made any treaty with
p,,,.: Servia against Bulgaria.
6"sAo' On the contrary. efforts are
being made at Sofia and Belgrade TO
prevent any Misunderstanding between
the two peoples. The chamber OF COM
merce of Belgrade has actually proposed
to the chamber of commerce OF Soma to
renew the work of the economical rap
prochment of Servia and Bulgaria In
terrupted by the war. Russia, il Is quite
well understood by her action at Get
TIME, will act as friendly arbiter to pre-
vent any possible rupture OF the Baikanic
entente which lie ardently hoped for by
certain unofiic.al circles at Vienna and
London.
The pivot of political events is dis
placed with such rapidity at this moment
it is difhcult to keep pace with them
Yesterday it was at Cettinje where hing
Nicholas surrendered under the threat
of tie powers Montenegro's indisputable
right to hold Scutari. won from the enc
N.Y. Today the pivot changes TO LONDON
in the resumption of the ambassadors
conference and the reassembling OF the
conference of the allies and turkey.
Neither the triple alliance nor the triple
entente desires war. or means war. and
only Austria Hungary is keeping up a
press agitation, hoping thereby that some
incident may favor her aspirations In
Albania. although the surrender OF Sou
tart would appear to have removed the
pretext for her intervention.
Essad Pasha, king of Albania, has
PLAYED a great role and his sudden
capitulation and proclamation is highly
dramatic. The effect at Vienna ana
CONSERVATION in ofhcial circles. which
were INDUCING hopes that the powers
in view of the imbrogiio might assent
to q Joint Austrian and Italian occupa-
tion OF the much coveted Albania.
Essad Pasha this royal title has not
yet been recognized) disappeared from
view when the curtain fell
Essad at Scutari He was reported
NJ as having proclaimed him.
1aSAa. self King of Albania at
AIessio. and marching thence ut the
neaQ
Tirana. his future capital.
The dispatches from Constantinople
are conflicting and create the suspicion
that Turkey may not have been en-
tirely ignorant of the coup d'etat in
the hope of retaining a foothoid in
Albania through Essad. who. 1t must
be borne in mind, Is a Mussnlman. IL
is true the dispatches ordered Essad
to disband his forces. but this may
have been with a tac1t understanding
that the order was not to be obeyed.
Essad, in any event. is a functionary
of no small importance whatever the
part he has chosen. He is a native AL
bantam and reputed to be very wealthy
and quite able to pay his troops from
his personal treasury, and doubtless
more regularly than the government at
Constantincple.
The ex-sultan. Hamid, sent Essad to
Janina as commander of the gendarmerie
with the rank Of general Of brigade. After
the revolution Of the Young Turks in 1905
he was named deputy of Durazzo ana
occupied seat in parliament. Essad in
1912 declared himself against the party
of union and progress, and espousing the
cause of the Albanian insurgents he par
ticipated in the fistic encounter which
marked the last proceedings of the OF
toman chamber.
When the siege OF Scutari was under
taken ESsad went there with his division
of Albanian redifs and supported the ef-
forts of Hassan Ria, the commander.
4
When Essad learned that the powers
had concluded to constitute Albania an
autonomous state he
Assassination hoisted the flag of the
-, new state. His rela-
OuSPeCIeu' tons thenceforth with
Hassan Ria, Mussulman disciplined sol
der and loyal subject, became exceeding
IL strained. Toward the end of Feb
ruary Essad invited Hassan Ria to a
grand dinner The rerast was marked
by great cordiality and apparent friendly
feeling on both sides Hassan Ria,
however, on returning to his quarters.
was attacked and killed by assassins. The
tragedy happened several days after the
assassination OF Maxim Pasha January
q. 1879, and the murder may have been
inspired by Essad, as charged. or an act
Of retaliation Essad assumed the mill
tary command Of Scutan Immediately
fo,,owing the ssassination OF Hassan
RiZa.
The King of Montenegro, il is in
t;mated somewhat vaguely, captured
Scutari not with great loss OF life
in consequence Of deadly assaults but
by fnsidious offers to Essad OF the
crown of Albania and a treaty OF
Alliance offensive and defensive. The
III. tA4 0o ~rf