The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-31
If Events Take Prescribed
Course Bombardment of
Adrianople Begins After
Four Days Interval
DIPLOMATS THINK
RESUMPTION OF WAR
is NOT YET ASSURED
Peace Negotiations Undergo Surpris-
ing Changes as Result of Trans
formation of Attitude of
the Young Turks--May
Yet Compromise

London, January so-The curtain may
rise on the second act of the Balkan war
next Monday. The allies denounced the
armistice at o'clock tonight, and, Il
events take the prescribed course the
bombardment of Adrianople viii be
started after an interval of four days.
Indeed, the bombardment has been sched-
uled for o'clock Monday.
Yet, even at this eleventh hour, war is
in no wise assured. Only few hours
before the allies proclaimed their mo-
mentous decision the Ottoman govern
ment presented it's reply to the joint
note of the powers of January II.
Never has diplomatic problem taken
such swift and surprising changes as
these negotiations for peace. The young
Turks who seized the government with
shouts of defiance have undergone a
marvellous transformation. Instead of
drawing the battle line at the question
of surendering Adrianople, they offer
a compromise which comes so near meet
Ing the Bulgarian demands that set
tement should not be impossible, and
they leave the Aegean islands to the
disposition of the powers.
May Yet Compromise
The difference between what Constanti-
nople is ready to give and what Bulgaria
is willing to accept has been reduced TO
such small proportions that some of the
Balkan delegates believe compromise
may yet be agreed upon. Constantine
pile now asks simply the retention of that
section of Adrianople where the holy
shrine are situated Bulgaria always
meant to leave the mosques and shrines
10 Turkey and even to confer the right
of extra territoriality thus giving them
something of the status of the vatican
in Rome. The vital differences Between
the two nations amount merely TO Tur-
keys demanding the shrines and the
sections surrounding them.
The Thracean frontier line. therefore
with the exception OF the town of Ad-
rianople. practically has been agreed TO
as Turkey is ready to leave to the pow
ers the disposition of the land on tho
right bank of the Martha river, which
conditions. as is known, the allies arc
satisfied to accept. The question of the
Aegean islands also practically has bee
solved, as the porte is disposed to leave
their settlement to the powers.
DR.. Daneff, head of the Bulgarian dele
cation, said with reference TO Turkey 5
reply:
1T is not of character to form the
basis for flesh negotiations. This, how
ever, is simply public statement, pos
sibly made to exercise more pressure
on Constantinople. A majority of the
allies apparently trust that a compro-
mise will be reached.
All the powers have urged the allies
10 do their utmost to prevent the re-
sumption of hostilities because of the
grave complications that Otherwise might
arise. Whatever happens, the Greek
premier, NJ Venizelos, will leave London
tomorrow He will visit friends in the
country and expects to depart from
England Saturday or Sunday.
NJ Navakovitch, head of the Servian
delegation, has arranged to go home in
q day or two, but will return if the
negotiations are rsumed. DIR. Daneff will
leave early next week.
The ambassadorial conference will
meet tomorrow morning to consider the
porte's reply.
Note Not Acceptable
Emphatically the Turkish reply to the
note of the European powers is not ac-
oeptable was the comment made by DIR.
Daneff. leader of the Bulgarian peace
delegation, when he was shown the terms
Of the Turkish plebiscite. He continued
Speaking In behalf of the allies,
say the answer is not of character to
form the basis of fresh negotiations. We
have said that the fortress of Adrianop1e
and the Turkish islands in the Aegean
seat must be ceded and without this me-
eotiatons will not be resumed. More
over this cession must be made before
hostlites are resumed, as the first shot
will change our conditions"
Events are moving with such rapidity
that the world may soon be confronted
not with the question of peace or war,
but with catastrophe which will lead
Turkey into tremendous civil strife.
Those who know the Ottoman empire be-
lieve that the revolt among the Turkish
troops on the Tchatalja lines was much
more grave than was announced in the
short dispatches passing before the CEN
sor. The closing events in Turkey give
rise to the belief by close observers thai
the Asiatic provinces where the elements
opposing the Young Turks are strong-
est than in European that none can bs
placated.