SERBS' CLAIMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 338, 27 October 1908, Page 7

SERBS' CLAIMS.

"STRIP" WANTED. SERYIA SEEKS THE SEA VIA BOSNIA. MONTENEGRO HER ALLY. TURKO-BULGAHIAN NEGOTIATIONS. [OT TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYttICUT.) (Roc. October 26, 10.22 p.m.) Belgrade, Octobcr 26. Afc a banquet given iu honour of Vukotich, Minister of v Finance in Montenegro, now in Belgrade, King Peter of Servia, in toasting Princo Nicholas of Montenegro, announced an alliance between Servia and Montenegro, with a view to national defonco. ["Vukotich, Montenegrin Minister of Finance," now in Belgrade, is almost certainly the "Vukolovitch, Montenegrin Envoy Extraordinary," who figured in recent cablegrams as being forcibly detained by tlie Austrian authorities at Agram (Southern Hungary). ioY seven hours, while proceeding on a mission from Prince Nicholas of Montenegro to King Peter of Servia. If Vukotich had at the time in his portmanteau a draft of the new alliance between the two Serb peoples, or any documents relating thereto, it must have been awkward, for the previous cablegram said that the Envoy was "searched" by the Austrian authorities. Austria subsequently apologised for the action, and Vukotich "received an ovation at Belgrade. There is no record of his name in the reference books as Minister of Finance in Montenegro, as tlie Premier, M. Tomanovich, stands for the whole Cabinet of Montenegro as far as the reference books are concerned. Though Montenegro received a constitution in 1905, the ruling hand is still Prince Nicholas. The first Rkuptchina did not work well, the Radicals demands exceeded the Prince's desires, and, after the dissolution last year, the Radicals withdrew from the consequent elections, alleging that the powerful name of Princo Nicholas was being used against thorn. The result was an all-Conservative Skuptchina, "all its members being absolutelv of one mind, and propared to accept whatever proposals a .paternal Government may lay before them. M. Tomanovich became Premier m April, laU/.J SERVIA AND MONTENEGRO. EARTH-HUNGER. WHAT WILL AUSTRIA SAY? (Rec. October 26, 10.22 p.m.) Getinje, October 26. M. Milovanovitch, Servian Minister for Foreign Affairs, has informed M. Isvolsky, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, that Servia, as compensation for AustriaHungary's annexation of, Bosnia and Herzegovina, asks for a strip of territory twelve miles broad, bounded on one side by the Sanjak of Novibazar, and on the other side by Bosnia and Herzegovina. This strip would form a buffer between Austria-Hungary and Turkey, would join up Servia with Montenegro, and would give Servia an outlet on the Adriatic Sea. Montenegro .also asks for territorial extension. GEOGRAPHICAL EFFECTS. SERVIA'S LONGING FOR A SEAPORT. ' This messago is of cnurse vagno. Land-locked Servia apparently wants a strip of territory twelve miles broad connecting her with the Adriatic Sea. At the nearest point Servia is quite 100 miles from the Adriatic Sea, so the strip would have to he at least 100. miles long. The first question ?s whether the strip is to Be carved out north of Montenegro—in which case the recently-annexed Bosnian territory of Austria would be tho loser—or whether it is to be 'carried' seawards south of. Montenegro—in which case Turkey's province of Albania would be plundered, arid the Turk's bill for compensation would become much larger. The statement that the new strip is to be bounded by Novibazar and Bosnia would, however, appear to settle it as boing north of Montenegro—that is, at tlie expenso of Austria. Is the country that has just annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina likely to yield to Servia a strip thereof twelve miles'wide and at least 100 miles long? In that case Austria -would hot only lose tho strip taken, but would find a strip of the Dalmatian coast cut from'her; for even Montenegro has only 28 miles of Adriatic seaboard, Austria possessing all tlie coastline to the north. Perhaps it is this strip of Austrian coast-line that, according to Serb ideas, should constitute Montenegro's oxtension. Montenegro's present ports are Antivari and Dulcigno (which' she obtained from Turkey under the Treaty of Borlin). Novibazar, formerly under Austrian military control, and now proposed to be retroceded byAustria to Turkey, is dropped in between Turkey, Servia, Austria, and Montenegro. It has been called the "door of the Aegean," tlm ontrance b.v which Austria is to break Into Turkey and force her way to Constantinople. But if this new Servian strip of territory, placing Servia in touch with Montenegro and in touch with the-Adriatic, were thrown across tho path, there would be, between Austria and Turkey, a buffor indeed. Servia, of course, 'ongs for an outlet in the. Adriatic Sea. Servia must import many essentials; Austria controls the Danube; and Austria can stop Servian importations, whether of Envoys Extraordinary (with alliances in their pockets) or of ammunition and guns. Territorial connection with the Adriatic would alter that. But what will Austria say? SERVIAN MISSION TO THE TSAR. Eelgrado, October 25. Tho Servian Crown Prince (Prince George) is going to St. Petersburg on a mission to the Tsar. WOMEN'S APPEAL. A BOYCOTT OF AUSTRIAN GOODS. (Rec. October 27, 1.12 a.m.) Belgrade, October 26. A Women's Leaguo meeting at Belgrade appealed to the women of Britain, France, and Russia, for assistance, and also advocated a boycott of Austrian goods. A crowd of 20,000 people afterwards gave an ovation to tho British, Turkish, French, and Russian Legations and to the Crown Prince. GERMANY AND RUSSIA. ISVOLSKY IN BERLIN. DESIRE -FOR GOOD UNDERSTANDING. (Rec. October 26, 10.22 p.m.) Berlin, October 26. The German Foreign Office has authorised a statement that the discussions between tho Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs (M. ■Isvolsky) and Prince von Bulow (German Chancellor) and Herr von Schoen (German Minister for Foreign Affairs) were very cordial. Both sides manifested a lively desire to exerciso as tranquillising an effect as possible on the present situation, to avoid serious complications, and to promote an understanding between tho Powors. ' Reut-er adds that tho chances of the proposed Conference of the Powers are regarded hopefully in diplomatic circles. Tho Kaiser and Kaiserin entertained M. Isvolsky to luncheon. I . THE CONFERENCE. AUSTRIAN ATTACKS ON BRITAIN. TURKEY BRIBED. Vienna, October 25. Bitter attacks on Great Britain have 'been made in the press of Vienna. Tho papers accuse Britain of bribing tho Young Turks, by means of loans, to accept tho British view regarding the proposed European Conference, and to break off dirwt.nejjotißtiomi with Austria.

The difficulty between Austria and Turkey mainly arises through Austria's reluctanco to tako over that part of the Turkish debt which falls 011 Bosnia. THE TURKS AND THE BULCARS. KIAMIL CONCILIATORY. DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS "WELCOMED. (Rec. October 26, 10.22 p.m.) Constantinople, October 26. Kiamil Pasha, Grand Vizier of Turkey, in an interview, stated that the negotiations between Turkey and Bulgaria are progressing. Kiamil added that ho hoped that, now that the Bulgarian delegates—Mil. Diraitrolf (Councillor to Bulgarian Foreign Office) andStoyanovitch—had returned to Sofia, now delegates, perhaps Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria himself, would come to Constantinople to continue the negotiations.