The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-20
SUMTER s. c. WEDNEsDAY oCT0RER On 7o7E
SOUGHT UNION IN BALKANS.
BRITISH DIPLOMACY DEVOTED
TO THAT END.
German Offers to Bulgaria at Expense
Of NcighbOrs Too Great to BE Met.

London, Oct. 1.-the diplomatic
rather than the military side of the
situation was the subject of Sir Ed
ward Grey's eagerly awaited state
ment relative to the Balkan situation
which he delivered today to a crowded
house Of commons.
Il propose to confine myself" the
British foreign secretary said, ITO a
resume Of our diplomatic objects since
the war. At the outset, we desired
that the war should not spread and In
common with our allies We assured
Turkey that If she remained neutral
Turkey and Turkeys territory should
not suffer. This situation was COM
plctely changed by the entrance Of
Turkey into the war, and all obliga-
tions on the part of the allies then
ceased.
I'VE and our allies then concen-
trated upon securing an agreement
among the Balkan states and we need
ed all our infleunce to secure any ac-
cord. Unfortunately the feeling in the
Balkans is not one of union, but one of
division. 1t Is clear nothing but
decisive preponderant advantage for
the allies would have enabled us to
secure a policy of union.
1--WE were given to understand in
the course Of the negotiations, that,
except with regard to Thrace, the GEN.
trail powers had offered to Bulgaria
more to secure her neutrality than the
allies could in fairness offer. The
promises which induced Bulgaria to
declare war were given by the cen.
trail powers at the expense of her
neighbors and without any CORE.
spending advantage to them.
I'VE have remained throughout on
friendly relations with Roumania, who
has favored the policy of Balkan
union. $685.,
1T Is the policy Of bringing abou,
a Balkan war that the sovereigns and
governments Of Germany. Austria.
Hungary and Bulgaria-the sovereigns
and the governments-have succeeded
tinscarying into effect. We were girsAu
to understand that In order to secure
Balkan union there were certain
concessions Bulgaria would require
especially in Thrace and Macedonia.
THE allies were ready to do all in
their power to secure these for Bull.
garia, but to obtain the consent OF
Servia and Greece it was an essential
preliminary that Bulgaria take sides
with the allies against Turkey. Ir
other words If Bulgaria was to realize
her hopes and aspirations she must
cooperate in common cause in which
the hopes and aspirations Of other
neighboring states were engaged.
1T will be enough to say that these
reasonable hopes and aspirations were
IN the main founded upon opportu-
nifty to peoples Of the same race, the
same sentiments and the same religion
to join themselves to q state under q
government most akin to them"
Premier Asquith in the house OF
commons declined to grant a day for
debate on Sir Edward Grey's state
ment on the Balkan situation. In the
mouse of lords the Marquis of Crewe
made statement similar to that of
the foreign secretary and continues:
This attack on Servia will only
make sterner and fiercer the determi-
nation of the allies to carry the war
through to definite victory at what
ever cost. Nothing has occurred in
any part of the world to weaken that
resolution and we will maintain it,"
During the discussion which fol-
lowed the Marquis of Crewe's state
ment, Viscount Milner suggested the
withdrawal Of the troops from CALI
poll and their transfer to some other
theatre Of the war.
Lord Lansdowne, in reply, said It
was impossible for any member of
the government to give an under
standing that the troops would con-
tinue In Dardanelles operations or
would be withdrawn from them.
The present situation, he declared.
was n grave and critical one; there
were new developments and new fac
tors In addition to the entrance of
bulgaria into the struggle. The atti-
tude OF Greece at the present moment
mad not been quite fully defined and
that was another factor in the cal
culation.