The Spectator., 1915-01-05
BALKAN STATES
 MAY ENTER STRIFE
SMALL NEUTRAL NATIONS SEEM TO BE ON THE VERGE
 OF WAR.
C0NTENTI0N0VER MACEDONIA
Bulgarians Claim Upon Ancient Coun- try May Force Trouble With
 Greece and Roumania.

London.-Indications point to the possibility of the Balkan states, which are now neutral, taking a hand in the war. The Greek minister of finance has declared Greece is making prepa- rations to maintain the new territories which she gained in Balkan wars from Turkey and Bulgaria, but that she has more to fear from Bulgaria than Fur key. It is not thought Roumania can look on calmly while the Russians are advancing toward Pennsylvania, and 1t Is expected she will join with Russia and try to secure the much-coveteG eastern province of Austria Hungary.
 The steps which have been taken to bring about an understanding between the Christian Balkan states and with the idea of securing the neutrality of Bulgaria, have not met with complete success. according to dispatches re- ceived in London from the near east Roumania are preparing for event ualities.
 During a discussion of the budget in the Greek Chamber of Deputies, Nj. Theokotis is reported to have declared the speech recently delivered by the Bulgarian premier regarding Mace donia, which Bulgaria considered should have been ceded to her after the last Balkan war, constituted menace: while the Greek minister of finance said Greece was making ur- gent military preparations to maintain her liberated territory.
 Another dispatch from Athens says the Greek government has forbidden the exportation of cereals. flour, cat tie, forage and arms. Should Bulgaria, contrary to expectations, attack Ser via to recover Macedonia, Greece by her treaty obligations would. it is thought in political circles here, come to the assistance of Servia and the Balkan peninsula would be in the throes of a third war.
 In Albania the revolution is said to be spreading and the Italians. who oc- cupied the seaport of Avlona, have sent a battleship to Durazo to pro- tect Italian interests.
 Turkey apparently expects trouble, as the Ottoman government has ex- pelled all Asians from the Dardanelles.
 The American official note pro- testing against the British treatment of American commerce and insisting upon an early improvement, came as a complete surprise to the British pub lie, as there has been virtually no in- timation that any friction had arisen between the two governments.
 The placards posted by the evening papers were given over exclusively to the American note. and the papers gave it the largest headlines they have given any news during the last month. British people regard this as one of the most important occurrences of the whole war. Nothing of it's kind since President Cleveland's Venezue- Ian message has produced such sen sation. ig
 The British Foreign Office, in agree ment with the American government, issued the text of the protest of the United States concerning delays to American commerce due to search of vessels by the British fleet. The Odi- cial Press Bureau gave out the follow ing statement:
 An answer to the American note will be drawn up as soon as possible. It will be in the same friendly spirit in which the American note is writ ten"
 The press bureau denied the sugges- tion published in the London Times that it's previous statement on the American note received by the For eign Office was issued with the inten- tion of charging the American govern ment with discourtesy in giving the contents of the note to the newspapers before it had been received by the Foreign Office.
 The announcement says:
 There has been no discourtesy whatever on the part of the State De- partment at Washington or the Ameri- can embassy in London"
 The public has regarded the note as diplomatic document of great i'm. portance. The first comment on it in the newspaper offices however. was that the note was less specific in stat ing the American complaints than had been expected.
 It had been assumed that 1t contain ed details of cases on which com plaints were based.
 President and His Program.