The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-09-24
Unity in the Balkans.

Unity in the Balkans.
The Premiers OF the Balkan States
Will meet early next month for the
purpose OF discussing the agreements
recently entered Into by these States
and OF planning unity OF action by
which they may most forclbly ex
press the political and economical de-
slres OF southeastern Europe. What
they apparently seek, although they
do not use the term as the designa'
ton Of their proposed compact, is the
formation Of Balkan league, q
union frequently attempted in the
past but never accomplished.
II was the misfortune of the Balkan
States that they were never able to
enter into mutual agreement that
would hold the parties TO 1t to a strlc,
fulfilment OF their responsibilities
The nearest approach TO this was the
so-called Balkan League formed IN
1912 principally through the innu'
ence and work OF VENIzELos, with
Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bul'
garla as the slgnatorles. II accom-
pllshed in part what It sought, the
overthrow OF the Turkish power in
Europe and the recovery OF Macedo'
MIA and other European territory
which the Turks held.
But no sooner was victory won than
the Balkan allies began Quarrellng
among themselves over the division Of
the spolls, A second war with Serbia
and Greece on one side and Bulgaria
on the other, and more bitter and
devastating In effect than their war
against Turkey, followed and required
the combined efforts Of the European
Powers to stop. The mutual under
standing among Serbia, Greece and
Rumanla that survived the second
war did not survive the severe
test TO which It was put when Serbia
was invaded at the beginning Of tho
world war. Rumanla failed TO come
to Serbla's aid. and the agreement, so
far as Greece was concerned, was
completely vltiated by the action Of
her King CONSTANTINE.
Lack Of unity existed in the Bal.
kan region almost from the first for.
nation Of the different States. II
they had been able to unite for mu.
tual protection the Turks would not
have found the Balkans so easy TO
conquer or to hold. The Turk re-
taned Macedonia and Thrace by
adroitly aligning people Of different
religions against one another and by
keeping alive the ancient racial quar-
rels and warfares
The interference Of foreign nations
IN the affairs of the Balkans was an
other cause Of the failure Of the Bal
kan people to enter into any agree.
ments or treaties among themselves.
The competition between Russia and
Austria for control Of the region south
Of the Danube kept the country in a
state Of constant turmoil and irrita.
ton. One Of the reasons for believ-
ing that the Balkan States may now
reach an amicable understanding is
that neither Russia nor Austria Is
able to interfere In Balkan politics or
to dictate the terms of such an un-
lerstandlng.
Recent statements from both Ath-
ems and Sofa that Greece and Bull
garia had definitely settled their
long standing quarrels and the state
ment from Belgrade that Serbia was
not seeking any Of Albanla's territory
and that she had come to nm amlcable
agreement with that country upon all
points in the old controversies would
seem to indicate that some advance
toward pence in the Balkans had ac-
tually been made, But before Europe
will believe that all is serene in this
former scene of turmoil she will ask
to see how the new league will stand
when put to test.