Evening star., 1913-11-23
BALKAN CRISIS UNDETERMINED

Minor but based upon indispensable re-
forms in Armenia. NJ Sazonon conclud-
ed an accord with Berlin on these points
with the appreciation OF both France
and England And NJ. Sazonof added:
The conference Of the ambassadors at
London has rendered inestimable serv-
ice. for IL has concluded an entente OF
the great powers; but its role Ii not YET
finished for there are several questions
which have not yet been lfauieateu-
So
NJ Kekoytzon. president OF the coun-
ciP Of ministers Of Russia. in turn has
visited Paris. Rome and
Russian Berlin. visits which are
Activity. regarded, res. ..n notwitns'apS. rs no.
contrary. as politically significant espe-
cialiy when IL is a question OF the re-
ASSEMBLING of the conference at LONDON.
NJ. Sazonof and NJ Kokovtzon. IL
should be added are eminent states
men, to whose ability perhaps more
than any Others Is due the MAIN
tenance OF peace. threatened In many
ways. not always apparent even In po-
litical circles. The president OF the
council OF ministers is not only great
In diplomacy. he is great also In finance.
II will be recalled that NJ. kokovtzon
replaced NJ. Mouravieff in 1902 as sec
retary of state. and in 1904 succeeded
Count de witte as minister OF finance.
a portfolio he has kept since 1904. when.
after the tragic death of Stolypine. he
succeeded as president Of the council.
The task assumed by NJ. Kokovtzof In
1904 was colossal The Russo-Japanese
.ex,f. Of f1ran~
had to provide for the enormous neces-
stiles imposed upon Russia That war
cost S14O0oO0.o00 This enormous sum
does not include the loss occasioned oy
the anarchists. the railway. post and teie-
graph strikes industrial strikes and the
bloody period of disorders that followed
What other government than Russia
could have withstood such shock?
Notwithstanding the sinister prophecies
that announced the near bankruptcy OF
Russia the stock of gold accumulated by
her ministers of finance augmented WIN
out interruption. From <3so.WWvo IN
1904 il reached S1.11o.00o.oO0 In less than
ten wears. The Russian money market.
which during the crisis occasioned by the
Balkanic war maintained the best situa-
tion and the utmost steadiness In the race
of events which had a bad effect on all
other European markets. The expenses
for the national defense. which rose from
S26l, 100 00o in 1904 attained $41o,oo,eU
in 1913 an increase of S2os soo.oN.
Russia has expended since 1904 for the
national Defense without counting the
expenses of the war with japan, So .fo.-
OWW0 The reconstruction of her navy
the augmentation of her army electives
and armament have occasioned each year
increased expenses. The evolutions Tor
1914 are set down at S52.onWo.
r
1t is to be noted that the augmentation
5a,. 1 h,-D D,S md al
ready realized. In
Tncrease Taxes confor ity with
Not Required. nature taken by
other countries will not necessitate any
increase i'm existing taxes nor the crea-
ton of new taxes. as In France ana Ger
many, for example, but will be ascrioeo
to the ordinary resources OF the budget.
NJ. Kokovtzof is an orator of the first
order His great facility OF elocution his
clearness of argument. based always on
facts and figures lends him unquestioned
authority
We have said that the cabinets of Paris
and Petersburg have addressed an
energetic note to Turkey, which govern
ment il is quite well known Is following
its characteristic policy OF stirring UP
strife among it's Christian adversaries
The Turks are In constant cOutTduiSttOa
with themselves. Their official language
is admirable: their acts simply incoherent
and often mendacious. They subscribed
to the treaty of London and proceeded
to violate it, They surrendered Adrian
ople Thrace and Dedeagatch. and protest
ing their loyal intentions reoccupied these
places in defiance of the powers. the
Turks affirmed their peace intentions. but
since the debacle Of Bulgaria they
threaten war. Turkey is a sort OF fire-
brand for Bulgaria, Austria and even
Italy, and without some such action as
that taken conformity by Paris and Pc
tersburg, the Turk will have the immense
JOY of witnessing the conhagration In
Europe which he ardently desires.
Turkey is invited by France and Rus
sia to terminate courteously and pacificai-
ly her negotiations with Greece, and
doubtless Bulgaria. too. has been given
to understand that she will do Well TO
stop flirting with Turkey, whose conduct
has become discourteous and insupport-
able.
With reference to pending questions
the visit of NJ Take Jonesco. Roumanian
minister of the interior tchief OF the con-
servative democrats), to Athens may be
politically significant
The Roumanian minister disclaims any
special importance of lis mission other
than TO emphasize at
Roumania'S Athens and elsewhere Rou-
A44;4a. mania's pacific ro.e. The