New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-05-18
British Concessions in the Balkans.

peucy was not a mere pretenSe Prince
LichnOwsky proves in his long ac-
count of the negotiations arising out
of the Balkan War and the estab-
iShment of Albania. at the out
break of that war" he says, we
Germany had unfortunately de-
clined the proposal of the French
Government to join in a declaration
Of disinterestedness and impartiality
on the part of the powers On the
other hand, he says of Lord Grey:
From the beginning, the British
statesman took the stand that Eng
land had no interest in Albania and
was therefore unwilling to he in,
Volved in a. war over this question. He
wished simply as an honest broker TO
mediate between the two groups and
settle difficulties. Thus he in NJ wise
placed himself on the side of the en-
tente (his al1ies) and during the he
gotiations, which lasted about eight
months. by virtue of his good will
and weiehty influence he contributed
not q little toward bringing about
concord and agreement. Instead Of
taking a position similar to that of
the English, we invariably assumed
the attitude prescribed to us from
Vienna *. On every point. in
Guiding Albania, the Serbian harbors,
in the Adriatic, Scutari, and the defin-
1tion of the Albanian frontiers, we
We're on the side of Austria and Italy,
whilst Sir Edward Grey hardly ever
took the French or Russian point of
view. On the contrary, he nearly al
ways took our part in order to give
no pretext for war 1t was with his
help that King Nicholas was induced
would have been war over this mat
ter, as We should never have dared to
ask our allies to make concessions.
Lord Grey conducted the negotia-
tons with circumspection, calmness
and tact. Whenever a question
threatened to become involved, he
would draft an appropriate formula
of agreement which invariably proved
acepta BILE to all His personality COM
manded equal confidence among all
the members Of the conference. Once
more we issued successfully from one
of those numerous tests of strength
which are Chara Cteristic of our for
eign policy. Russia had had to yield
to us at every point to further Ser
bian am bitions. Albania was created
an Austrian vassal State and Serbia
was driven from the sea. The result
of the conference was therefore a
fresh humiliation for Russian self
consciousness"
British Concessions in Africa.
Similarly, when Germany sought
concessions in the Portuguese col
onies in Africa. England. as the pro-
tector of Portuguese interests in
Africa, assisted Germany in obtaining
all she wished. "Thanks to the oblig-
ing attitude, of the British Govern
ment,' Prince Hchnowsky writes, II
succeeded in giving the new treaty a
form which fully conceded with our !
wishes and interests. All of Angola
up to the twentieth degree of longi-
tude was assigned to us, so that we
reached the Congo region from the !
south; and We received the valuable
islands of San Thome and Principe,
which lie north of the Equator and
therefore really belong to the French
sphere of Interest," fact which led
my French colleague to lively though
fruitless counter representations.
we received the north
arn part of Mozambique, the Likungo |
forming the boundary.
THE British Government showed |
the greatest obIigingness in behalf of
our interests. Grey wanted to mani |
fest his good will toward us, but he |
was also interested in furthering our |
colonial expansion. it being the Eng |
ish idea to divert the developing Ger |
nan strength away from the North |
sea and western Europe out into the |
open ocean and Africa We do not |
oogrudge Germany her colonial eX- |
said a member of the Cab |
met to me. Great Britain originally |
proposed to include the Congo in the |
treaty as well This would have Civ !
en- us a right of presumption and an !
opportunity for economic penetra ton. |
However, we declined this offer, os- |
tensibly out of regard for Belgian !
Tho sincerity |
Of the British Government in it's Of |
forts to respect our right was shown !
by the fact that Grey, even before |
the treaty was completed or signed, |
referred to us certain English pro-
motors seeking investments of capt. !
tai in the territories assigned to lis |
by the new treaty and desiring Brit |
sh backing in the matter. He did |
This with the remark that the enter |
prise contemplated belonged within |
our sphere of interest"
British Concessions in Asia Minor. |
Prince Iichnowsl1y continues: AT |
he same time T was carrying on in |
London negotiations regarding the So
called Bagdad treaty. 81 ii The real |
purpose of this treaty was to divide !
Asia Minor into spheres of interest, |
although this expression was careful |
y avoided out of regard for the rights |
Of the Sultan. Sir Edward Grey re- |
pea tedly declared, however, that |
here existed no agreements with |
France and Russia. for the purpose of |
parttioning Asia Minor.
After enlistng the aid of a Turk
sh representative, in the person of !
FIakki Pasha, all economic questions |
with German enterprises /
I'D IL in ncnnrd.