"SOME BLUE SKY."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 414, 25 January 1909, Page 5

"SOME BLUE SKY."

POSITION IN THE BALKANS. SPEECH BY SIR EDWARD GREY. MORE HOPEFUL ASPECT. (by TBtEGKA'rn—riiEsa association—copyright.) (Rec. January 24, 4.30 p.m.) ; • .. . London, January 23. Sir E. Grey, speaking at Coldstream, referred to the more hopeful aspect in tho Balkans duo to the accommodating of Austria and Turkey. It would be too much to say that;the sky was clear. Other clouds were still lowering, but in one/part where the clouds were particularly threatening there was now a gladdening appearance of some blue sky. Ho denounced the gross misrepresentations and inventions of the Austrian press regarding Britain's attitude. ITALY'S. ATTITUDE. "Upon the broad question'of tho inviolability of treaties, Signor Tittoni's position is indistinguishable, as must. he recognised in Austria, from that of Mr. Asquith and Sir Edward Grey," says "The Times." "Hβ admits that Austria-Hungary has broken the publio law of Europe, and that by doing so she has difficult situation.'which; affects all ..the('Signatories of the Treaty of Berlin. 'He laid stress upon the understanding which. exists between Italy: and the other Powers, and particularly between Italy and Bussia, for the promotion of peace and progress in the Balkan States, and he affirmed that the rapproohement of the two countries is complete— a statement which can hardly be reduced, as they try "to reduce it in Vienna, to ,a reference to some 'defensive alliance in tho economio sphere.' With regard, to tho Triple Alliance itself, he has made an important disclosure, which is confirmed "from Austrian sources, though Austrian, and perhaps also German, statesmen may regret },hat this wellkept secret has now been revealed. The Trentino, question has never even been disonssed in the negotiations for the Alliance, but, on the bther hand, arrangements have been made in it to give Italy 'compensations' for every further 'displacement , ,which may'take place in Macedonia and Albania. The proof that Italy approaches the Near Eastern crisis from the Europen standpoint is doubly,welcome at a moment when. the movements of Austrian troops towards the southern frontier can no longer be>, denied, v The official explanation which , has been issued in Viennajoan; delude" nobody. It merely demonstrates that the moyeI'raehts' in' question are', oh such. a'!scale that they oaunot be concealed." "': ..' : '■ AN APPEAL TO AUSTRIA. ■In an article in the Paris "Journal," quoted by tho . "Evening Standard," .M. Hanotivux, former Minister For Foreign Affairs, states, his views on the Balkan' embroglio with some emphasis. "It is necessary," he declares, "for. some one to make a beginning and go away Unsatisfied. This some one can only be Aus-tria-Hungary. Sho took the first step forward; it lies with her to take the first steD ■back. A word declaring preacceptance of the judgment ,of Europe, and 'everything is settled. Why this haughty stiffness, this frigid silence, in an affair which 1 was so badly begun, badly followed up, and in general badly received? . . . If by a very lofty and noble resolution, by an acquiescence such as that given by Russia after 1878 (when her Treaty of San- Stefano was annulled)—if by a : half .withdrawal'pf this kind, honourable and glorious in its kind, the Chancelleries of Europe are entrusted with the settlement of the matter, then'everything becomes easy. 'If not, none can answer for events, still less those who have brought them on." V.