IS THERE A TREATY?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1012, 30 December 1910, Page 5

IS THERE A TREATY?

In September the' Paris' "Matin" stated:—"Wo are in a position to state, according to information from an absolutely reliable source, that on Friday a military understanding was arrived at between Turkey : and Rumania;, under which it is agreed,.that, the Roumanian Army shall co-operate with Turkey in tho event of the latter being attacked, by Bulgaria'. ' "We are assured at the same time that this agreement has been drawn up under the inspiration of tho German and Aus-tro-Huugarian Governments, and that Baron Marschall von Bieberstein, the Gorman Ambassador at Constantinople; was one of the principal contrivers of its provisions. . "The agreement is a secret one, therefore it will be readily understood that the Governments concerned will be somewhat perplexed at its 'disclosure. In the circumstances a formal denial of the ex istonce of such an agreement may be pectecl;. nevertheless we ' are absolutely certain." ■ .!' ■ ... ■ Thero has since been much speculation as to whether an understanding has been definitely arrived at between the : two' countries. A military treaty of this kind with Rumania would practically mean tho entrance of; Turkey, into the'. Triple Alliance. Rumania has always been believed to be bound, to .that. aliiancS by a secret military compact. At the same time, tho negqtiation of a treaty specially aimed against Bulgaria would be regard'-, ed by the Bulgarian people, and notun-' justly, as an' unfriendly act; , 1 ' Discussing the effect of the alliance on that, though it may banish' for the moment tho danger of war in the Balkans,', it. must drive'Bulgaria,into the arms of Russia. .The.second fact is that snch'analliance would at once draw Bulgaria, Scrvia, Montenegro, and Greece closer together and perhaps lead' to a count'era'lliance directed against Turkey. Hitherto the. mutual jealousies and irreconcilable ambitions of these lesser P.owers have kept them apart, but if they are confronted with a common danger 'they may, sink their 'differences and unite for defence. , \