, 1913-09-24
SIR E. GREY WARNS TURKEY.

A serious warning to Turkey regarding
the consequences that may follow her ad-
vance into Thrace beyond the new boundary
drawn up by the Treaty of London and o
hint to the turbulent Allies that they may
yet provoke the Intervention of one Of the
Great Powers were the two outstanding fea-
lures of an important statement on the Bal
kan situation and the work of the Concert of
Europe made by Sir Edward Grey in the
House of Commons on Tuesday. Several
members of the Diplomatic Corps, including
the Russian Ambassador, were among the
Foreign Secretal vs. hearers.
The adjournment sine die Of the meetings
of Ambassadors which have been held regu-
larly III London during the critical period of
the Balkan conflict prompted the long re-
view which Sir Edward gave to the House.
at has been an axiom of diplomacy for
many years that if ever war broke out in the
Balkans it would be impossible or almost i'm
possible to prevent one of the Great Powers
being drawn into the conflict" Sir Edward
said, but the Concert of Europe has disap-
pointed that expectation, and Sir Edward
warmly praised the working of the new ma
chinery Of diplomacy provided by the meet
ings of the Ambassadors in London,
The problems confronting the Concert had
been dealt with thus:
Acknowledgement arrived at setting
up a Commissioned of Control. Eventually
there will be an autonomous State, with a
Prince selected by the Great Powers.
Egean Islands.-Undertaking given that
no one Of these Islands (u which we are in
terested on naval grounds) shall be claimed
or retained by the Great Powers.
Thrace and MacAdonia-Two most serious
and difficult questions are presented. Tur-
key has disregarded the new frontier line
fixed by the Treaty of London under the
auspices of the Great Powers. The agree
ment between Rumania and Bulgaria has
been disregarded. Macedonia has been
"drenched in blood" The oonfa grafton has
nearly burned itself out because everything
consumable has been consumed.
Turkeys Advantages.
Discussing Thrace aud AdrIanople, Sir
Edward declared that the new Euos- Midla
frontier line, according to the best military
opinion in Europe, gave Turkey a most ad-
vantageous frontier. He reminded Turkey
also that her frontier might have had to be
drawn still further south had not the Allies
known that the pressing of their advantage
to the peril Of Constantiuople would have
brought about the intervention of one or
more of the Great Powers. Further, the
Powers had saved Turkey having to pay an
indemnity. For all these reasons he claimed
that Turkey owed loyalty to the Powers, aid
if she persisted in occupying Adrianople and
ignoring the frontier line then he warned
her that
Sooner or later, whether from financial dis
tress or Intervention on the part of one of
the Powers, it would bring disastrous conse-
quences from which we cannot protect her.
On the subject of the treaty of Bucharest
Sir Edward deprecated the Powers sugges.
ting notifications. Considering the temper
of those Who made the treaty suggestions of
notifications would be futile unless the Pow
ers were prepared to assert their will by
force.
'This war began as u war of liberation; it
became rapidly a war of conquest; il all the
charges are true which the different parties
engaged in the war bring against each other
it has ended in being a war of extermina-
ton" was the bitter lament of the Foreign
Secretary in commenting on the stories of
outrages.
II would not have it supposed" conclud-
ed Sir Edward Grey. 'that because interven-
ton has been avoided so far there will not