BALKAN CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1565, 8 October 1912, Page 5

BALKAN CRISIS.

'4KJTLOOK MORE HOPEFULACCEPTANCE 0F DEMANDS REPORTED. FINANCE AND WAR. fly Tclezranli—Press Association-CouyrieUt (Kec. October 7, 9.20 p.m.) London, October 7. The "Daily Telegraph's" Constantinople correspondent says that as a result of the elforts of tho English, Russian, and French Ambassadors, the Porto hag accepted the application of Article XXIII of tho Treaty of Berlin to Macedonia and Rumelia, and.will grant reforms similar to those proclaimed in Crete. POWERS' JOINT NOTE. Paris, October G. The Prime Minister, M. Poincare, and M. Sazanoff, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, have accepted Austria's modification in :ho proposed joint Note to the Balkan States, making it clear that tho Powers shall guarantee Turkey's integrity. Tho Echemo is to be submitted to tho Powers. AN ARMISTICE EXPECTED. Constantinople, October G. It is understood the Turkish Cabinet's reply to tho Powers is likely to result in an immediate armistice. DIFFICULTY IN WAY OF PEACE. Vienna, October G. The newspaper "Neues Wiener Tagblatt" says that Count Berchtold, the AustroiHungarian Foreign Minister, is prepared to agree with M. Foincar's proposal for Austro-Russian action. The "Fremdenblatt" points out that an immediate difficulty in the way of peace lies in the position taken up by King Ferdinand, and tho internal situation in Bulgaria. THE RIVAL ARMIES. EVENLY MATCHED. BALKAN PARLIAMENTS MEET. Budapest, October 6. Tie Servian army mobilisation was completed yesterday. Tho Bulgarian mobilisation will bo finished on Monday, and that of Greece in a fortnight's time. Tho Balkan States will be able to place 350,000 men in tho field, and 309,000 Turks will be available. The mobilisation of the latter will probably occupy threo weeks. The Hungarian railways held up a train load of war materials from Frnnc'e and destined for Bulgaria. BULGARIAN WAR VOTES. - Sofia, October G. 1 King Ferdinand, in opening the Bulgarian Sobranje, asked it to approve of martial law and other necessary measures. M. Matinoff, Leader of the Opposition, declares that intervention by the Powers must be felt in Constantinople, not in Sofia; otherwise it will bo impossible to carry dut demobilisation of the army. Extraordinary army credits havo been passed. This has met -with France's approval. ; SERVIA AND THE CHRISTIANS. Belgrade, October G. King Peter, in opening - tho Skupshtina, said that Christians were threatened with extermination instead of being given promised reforms. Turkey had mobiised her army, thus 1 endangering the safety of Servia, and compelling the latter to go in for counter-mobilisation.

Three thousand boy scouts have been accepted as messengers and clerks in the public services, and. will replace the reservists. SALARIES TO BE CURTAILED. (Rec. October 7, 11.45 p,m.) Sofia, October 7. Parliament has assented to the declaration of a state of siege and the establishment of a Moratorium for thrco months. The Minister for Finance has been also authorised to ourtail the salaries of publio officials from ten to thirty per cent. • GREECF, WELL SUPPLIED WITH ; EEADY MONEY. Athens, October C. The Minister for Finance states that Greece has no necessity to borrow. Sho has fifty-eight million fronts (42,416,000) in foreign banks and over ono hundred million (JC4,1(!6,000) in the National Bank. Ho adds thalt tho current year's Budget shows a considerable surplus. The first Greek submarine has arrived from Toulon. It was given an enthusiastic reception. MORATORIUM IN MONTENEGRO. Cettinje, October G. A moratorium has been officially declared. A Moratory law is a law passed in. times of emergency postponing for a subsequent time tho due date of bills of exchange and other obligations. During the FrnncoGernian War of 1870-71 Moratory laws were several times passed by the French Government, Their international effect was discussed at gre.it length, and their validity upheld in the caso of Rouquetta V. Overmann, 1875. It is of the essence of a Moratory law that it should bo enacted to meet some special political or commercial emergency. ' AFFRAYS ON THE FRONTIER. BULGARIANS STIRRING UP REVOLTS. TURKS SLAUGHTER INVADERS. , (Rcc. October 7, 11.45 p.m.) Constantinople, October 7. There have been collisions, between Turkish and Greek frontier guards at Motsovo. Bulgarian and Servian agitators aro stirring up revolts at Monastir and Novi Bazar. Tho Turks frustrated a Servian attempt to cross the frontier at Bahkn. MONTENEGRINS DRIVEN OUT. Vienna, Octolwr 0. The "Ncuo Freie Prcsse" states that a body of Montenegrins 'entered Novi Bazar on Thursday. The Turks killed one hundred, and the rest recrossed tho Tara River. ; STUDENTS DEMAND ARMS, Athens,' October 6. Students from tho University went to the War Office and demanded arms. M. Venezelos, the Premier, in congratulating (hem on their patriotism, promised not to fail to summon them when they were needed. FINANCIERS AND WAR. BALKAN' FUNDS IN PA HIS BANKS. (Rec. October 7, 9.20 p.m.) London, October 7. Flnauoiiil »utlinritie» Hatn llmt thn .Balkan States arc looking to Paris to

financo them. Franco issued several loans during tho last year or two to them, and considerable balances remain in Paris at the borrowers' credit. If the Parisian banks attempt to curb the tire-eaters by cutting oft' supplies. Servia and 'Bulgaria, may tight with paper money. In tho hial resort, London mint support Paris. DEMONSTRATION IK CONSTANT[NOI'Lll. Constantinople, October (!. Talaat Bey (ex-Minister fur tlio Interior) and Djavid Bey (a former Treasurer) called to Ihe colours as reservists,, have gone to the front, although they paid for exemption. A mob taking pnrt in demonstrations, smashed llio windows of the Greek Consulate. The gendarmerie dispersed the mob. All graduates from military schools have received sub-lieutenants' commissions. BRIGAND LEADS ATTACK. Berlin, October G. Tho newspaper "Frankfurter Zeitung" states that Sandansky, tho Bulgarian brigand who somo time ago kidnapped Miss Stone, has occupied the passage to Kresna, over tho River Struma, with 2500 men, and burnt a Turkish Iwrracks at Oschumara. PEACE IN SAMOS. Constantinople, October G. The Ottoman garrison has been withdrawn from Samos, and tho Cretan insurgents are returning homewards. GREEKS RETURN FROM ABROAD. New York, Octobor G. Four thousand Greeks are returning by special transport to holp Greece in the event of war. . THE BERLIN TREATY. TEXT OF ARTICLE XXIII. Article XXIII of the Berlin Treaty, ■which opens with the pledge on the part of Turkey to apply in Crete the Organic Reglement of 18G8, provides that— "Analogous regulations adapted to the needs of each locality—save those which deal with the exemptions from imposts accorded to Crete—shall 1m introduced equally in the other parts of Turkey in Europe for which a special organisation has not been provided in the present treaty. "The Sublime Porte shall appoint special commissions, on each of which local citizens shall bo largely represented, to' elaborate the details of "tho new laws in each province. "The schemes of organisation resulting from this work shall be submitted for examination to the Sublime Porte, which before promulgating Acts putting them into force, shall take the advice of the European Commission set up to control the affairs of Eostern Rumelia." The provisions of the last paragraph could not now be applied, as since 1885 Eastern Rumelia has been an integral part of Bnlgnria, and there is no European Commission to contiol its ofiairs. AUSTRIA AND MONTENEGRO. AN ALLEGED SECRET TREATY. A document of (he very highest importance is, according to tho "Temps," published by the "Umos Moskvy" ("Voice ot Moscow"), a Moscow paper, which, it may be observed, is the organ of M. Guichkoll, the leader of the Uctobrist party, wtio has excellent connections iu tho Balkans. The document is nothing less than the text of a secret treaty between Austria and Montenegro signed at Vienna on June 12, 11)07, ior a period ot twenty years. Its chiet provisions are:— (1) in caso of war between Austria and Russia or Servia, Montenegro is to pieservo strict neutrality. (2) In caso of war between Austria and Turkey, Montenegro is tqjend-the former her assistance. ''.",': (3) In ease of war between Austria and Italy, Montenegro is to cede to tho former the port of Autivnri for temporary uso in return for payment. (•J) In caso Montenegro is attacked by Turkey, Austriu is to support Montenegro materially and diplomatically, and should Montenegro be deleatod Austria guarantees her integrity and the restoration of the status quo ante belluni. (5) Montenegro undertakes not to protest against the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and not to enter into negotiations with any Power, especially Russia, Italy, and Servia, without previously informing Austria. (6) If a Balkan federation is realised under the protectorate of tho Habsburgs, Montenegro shall obtain a largo measuro of autonomy and an accession of territory by tho addition of Herzegovina and northem Albania, from tho Bay of Cattaro down to tho river Drin. (7) Austria is to muke a yearly payment of 360,000 knonen (,£15,000) to tho King (then Prince) of Montenegro, and guarantees the maiiitcnanco of his dynasty. Yet another article provides for the annexation (to Austria?) of the Sandjak of Novi-Bazar, "Old Servia," centra! Albania, and Macedonia. The document bears every mark of being genuine (says the "Manchester Guardian" of August 29). The existence of a secret treaty between Austria and Montenegro has long'been suspected In 1907 King (Him Prin.e) Nicholas of Montenegro paid ,i visit to Berlin, of which he aftcnvnnls spoke at the opening of the Skupshtina with particular emphasis ctnd satisfaction. Shortly afteiwards the Archduke Franks Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-llungarian Throne, had an interview at Ragilsa, with prince Danilo of Montenegro (King Nicholas's heir), and the Austrian Admiral Monteeuceoli paid an official visi: to Cetinje. These movements di'iw universal attention at tho time, and suggested the idea that an understanding had been concluded between the two Powers. The most surprising feature of the document is the completeness of his dependence oil tlio Tfabsburg monarchy to which Prince Nicholas appears to have consented. Not only -was he willing, apparently, to accept military aid from Austria, to help her in war "against Turkev or Italy, and to l>ecomo an Austrian pensioner, but he consented to leave his Serb fellow-countrymen in Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, and Dalmatia for over in Austria's grasp, to allow her to absorb tho Serbs of Servia and Novi-Baznr, and to submit to becoming a little Austrian vassal in return for a cession of territory about equal to what he now holds. If the condition mentioned in article f> were realised, Montenegro would Ix> a semiindependent State surrounded by Austrian territory or territory dependent on Austria, and the dream of a united Serb nation would have vanished.