Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-06
RUSSIAN BALKAN ARBITRATION

Thu European budget is crowded TO
overflow. There are changes of ministers
at Constantinople. Madrid.
Crowding Budapest. Belgrade and
rra,4. possibly Sofia. Then there
is interest In the twenty
NTH anniversary of Kaiser Wilhelm's ac-
cessfon to the throne: the prohibition OF
Hauptmann's play by the crown prince:
the military law In the reichstag; the
French naval maneuvers at Toulon, and
the visit OF the president Of the French
republic to London. But more than all
these, the chief interest centers In the
startling announcement of actual war
among the Balkan allies.
Dispatches from Londen declare that
there has been battle, in which the Bull
garians seized and occupied Guevhei. an
important strategic position where Greek
and Serrian lines Join. On the other
hand, 1t is reported that the Servian
forces had captured Istep, that q battle
had been fought at Ortchepolye, where
bulgarian losses were enormous"
II the dispatches should be confirmed
the spectacle cannot but provoke a SEN
timent of pity that is almost akin 10 dis
gust.
1t may not be too late to strange the
affair In its inception. for 1t is incredible
that the powers may permit the peace of
Europe to be held subject to q group of
states which have led Europe to believe
they possessed all the principles of ma
tons, when in fact they were still ami
mated by the spirit Of the barbaric hordes
whence they came.
mistress Of the situation, alone II
necessary, but perhaps with the joint
cooperation Of England, France and
Germany, probability which, how
ever strange. has nevertheless been
affirmed In certain diplomatic orioles.
A rescript from the ear indeed. COM
pletes his kilograms to the kings Of
Servia and Bulgaria. and constitutes
warning that In case the govern
ments Of Servia and Bulgaria did not
accept his pacific invitation to settle
their differences at st. Petersburg Rus
STA would impose her conditions.
Car Nicholas. In his dispatch. COM
menced by recalling his satisfaction
OF the Balkanic states would meet in
council. The car then expressed great
regret when he learned that nothing
had come OF It, but, on the contrary.
there was fear that the allied states
would engage In a frafricidal conflict
right and the duty to counsel the
Balkanic states. 1t was to
kuSSla'S Russia that Bulgarians
r1.: and Seryians had referred
the arrangement OF all
differences in their treaty Of alliance
The car demanded that they should
remain faithful to their obligations
and refer to Russia the solution OF
their actual differences.
The car felt 1t to be his duty to
warn their majesties that a war be-
tween the allies could not be viewed
by Russia with Indifference and he
would make it clear that the state that
commenced the conflict would be held
responsible by the whole Slav world. The
czar reserved for himself undue liberty
as to the attitude which Russia would
adopt in view OF the ultimate results OF
such q criminal conflict.
The reply Of the Servian king was
prompt and cordial. but the Bulgarian
kings language. although diplomatic,
was not frankly sympathetic or clear.
The Austrian press is very much stirred
up over Russia's intervention, and they
all agree that it is an event Of the firss
Importance. to which no one may be In
different.
The F'remdenblatt. organ OF the min
istry of foreign affairs, observes a pru-
press The New Free Press. for ex-
ample. says: 1T is the first time that
the Slav question is posed other than by
publicists or groups without political re-
sponsibility. and this fact cannot be ig-
nored by the Balkanic states who possess
Slav. subjects"
The Zeit, on the other hand. recognizes
that the car had the duty to Interfere.
even il 1t was disagreeable to Austria.
Russia. which made the Balkan alliance.
CHI of IL
ton. If that creation meant Russian
political success when these states were
weak and devoid of consideration, now
that they had become victorious and
powerful, the Balkanic league under the
direction. of Russia was a far greater
success. That fact should be recognized
without shame, even IL with bitter re-
Elections"
1t should be remarked that the dispatch
of the car to the kings OF Bulgaria and
Servia did not provoke in the Berlin press
any hostile comment. as In that of
Vienna.
Sir Edward Grey. replying to Mr. Noel
Buxton's inquiry as to whether the Brit
ish government had Of
Official View fered its mediation to
in Fnoland the Balkanic states.
~ LIB aoh". stated that the Russian
emperor had done SO. The sentiments OF
disappointment and disapprobation by
public opinion over the prospect of war
between states that have fought as allies
could not be too strongly expressed. And
Sir Edward added that "a conflict would
ALLEVIATE from the Balkanic states all the
sympathy which those states had en-
listed. In fighting over their conquests
they might lose everything"
Besides the warning to the Balkan
states delivered by the czar, 1t is inter
fob, Of ha