New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-03
RUSSIA D|CKERS WITH
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE
Her Statesmen Develop Special
Understanding with Austria
and Italy as to Albania.
GREECE MAY GET CRETE
Fate of the Egean Archipelago
Likely To Be Decided by
Ambassadors of the
Powers in London.

Powers in London.
London. Jan. 3.-The plenipotentiaries
10 the peace conference enjoyed yester-
day a day of general relaxation.
The ambassadors at their meeting
reviewed the whole situation without
entering deeply into any particular
question They wish TO have more con-
crete instructions before they do so.
In the meantime an exchange of COM
munications is occurring between the
chancelleries of the Triple Entente and
the Triple Alliance. while a special UNI
Outstanding is developing between Rus
STA, Austria and Italy concerning Al
bania.
Regarding the frontiers Of Albania the
opinion prevails among the ambassa-
doris that they will be able to strike
proper medium between the too re-
stricted suggestions of the allies and
the too extended boundaries favored by
Austria. 1t is reported that the Rus
sian. Italian and French ambassadors
are supporting this middle course.
There appears to be among the am
bassadors a strong current in favor OF
the annexation of Crete to Greece, but
they claim that in exchange they should
be intrusted with the decision respect
ing the fate of the Egean islands.
OF international Importance.
The powers are particularly con-
Cerned in this question because some
of the islands. Samothrace. lmbros,
Lemnos and Tenedos are of interna-
tional importance, commanding as they
do the entrance 10 the Dardanelles.
while Mitylene and Chios bar the en-
trance of the Gulf of Smyrna. The re-
mainder Of the islands are still in the
hands Of Italy. which occupied them
during the war with Turkey.
If the powers unanimously ask Greece
10 evacuate some of the islands al
ready occupied, il is believed that
Greece will obey, as she did at Avlona
on the simple intimation of Italy, and
as Servia and Montenegro did or pre-
pared to do on the Albanian coast In
order to please Austria.
The Turks continue, of course, 10
declare that The concessions announced
by them on Wednesday have sur
passed any logical expectation, but
that now they cannot at any cost cede
an inch more. on the other hand the
allies with unanimous voice and COM
pact front maintain that they would
rather end the conference than re-
nounce what they claim is due them by
right of their victories in the war.
That the game is being played on
both sides is evident. The Turks en-
phasize the enormous Importance Of
what they have coded, which in reality
is only what they have lost, and what,
independently of the allies, not even
the powers would allow them to re-
conquer.
For the opposite reason the allies
belttle the Turkish concessions, as
they desire definitely to settle forever
their differences with the Ottoman
Empire.
Compromise Is Possible
The real stumbling block is Adrian
ople, as a compromise solution respect
ing the Kgean Islands is possible.
Some suggest that Turkey cede them
10 the powers, which can decide their
fate. 1t is recalled that such a course
.ol- 49,. u
senting even greater difficulties.
The supporters of this plan hint that
Turkey might even cede the islands 10
the allies, as has practically been done
with Albania. on condition that the
powers pledge themselves to claim. as
in the case Of Albania, the right to
decide the status Of the Kgean Archi-
pelago.
The struggle will certainly he bitter
now between the Turks and the allies.
The former are threatening to appeal
TO the supreme tribunal of Europe; the
latter are threatening 10 resume the
war. 1t is expected, however, that re-
lief from this situation may result
TO whose judgment probably both Tur
key and the allies will submit if they
decide unanimously what the fate Of
the islands must be.
Representatives of the Albanian pro-
visional government who have arrived
in London will submit TO the ambassa-
dorial conference memorandum ad-
vocating the inclusion within the boun-
diaries of Albania a large extent of ter
ritory, including Prevesa, Yanina
Monastir. Uskub, Pristine, Mitrovitza
and Ipek. According to THE Times"
however, the conference is not likely to
take the Albanian question in hand
seriously for some time yet.
RUMANIA PREPARING