The Dominion. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1913. THE NEW SITUATION IN THE BALKANS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1733, 25 April 1913, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1913. THE NEW SITUATION IN THE BALKANS.

The capture of Scutari by tho Montenegrins and the possibility of the Allies turning their guns on one another has created a new and diflicullt situation in the Balkans. The aim of Austrian official diplomacy has been to make Scutari the capital of a new autonomous Albania, and Russia has practically agreed to this provided the Slavs are given ' compensation elsewhere; but the fall of the city has introduced al new factor which may give rise to dangerous coniplicatjons. The growing feeling of- hostility on tho part of the Greeks ' and Servians towards the Bulgarians is intensifying tho trouble, and unless the situation is handled with the greatest wisdom by European statesmen there may be necessity for active intervention by force. Should this happen no one can tell how far the area of conflict may extend. _ All the Powers are well aware of this danger and are preparing for emergencies. It was v the perilous'' situation in , South-East Europo created by the victories of the Allies that quite recently caused the German Emperor to_ press for a large increase in expenditure on the Army, recognising that the sympathy and' support of tho Balkan Slavs would be given to the Triple Entente. (Britain, France, and llussia) owing to Austria's threatened intervention to deprive the Allies of a large part of the fruit of their victories. Another sourco. of difficulty and danger is the friction which has arisen among the Allies themselves. Now that the war with Turkey is practically over the partition' of the conquered territory and other matters have given rise to feelings of suspicion and jealousy which have at length resulted in a situation bordering on actual war. While the Peace Conference was being.held in London a Balkan statesman significantly remarked: "It is not any use for Turkey now to try to reopen old quarrels between -the 'Balkan States to serve her_interests. Nor is it useful to inquire whether we arc quite a happy family now. Until the peace with Turkey is mfttjlc .we arc

absolutely united. Afterwards—well, afterwards we can settle our own affairs between ourselves.'.' The critical "afterwards" now appears to have arrived, and judging by the latest developments the settlement is not going to be either an easy or a friendly matter. As long as the Turk was unbeaten the Allies were compelled to act in concert, but now that the common foe has been crushed each of the conquering States is fighting for its own hand. Referring to their mutual suspicions and jealousies a correspondent of the Morn■uitj I'ost states: The plain fact is that' each ono of ihe Allies l'cels that it has a claim to tlio suzerainty of tho Balkans. Between Bulgaria and Servia thero was a very delinito alliance which provided for the division of tlio spoils after tho war. Grecce came in on u more loose basis. She- bound herself to put 100.000 troops in the field, but there was no actual agreenieut as to her sharo of the spoils. Now the events of the war have accentuated all tho difficulties regarding tho division of the conquered territory. Europe has decided that Albania; shall bo autonomous. At once thero disappears a largo portion of tlio spoil destined for Servia and Montenegro. Those States seek compensation elsewhere, and that compensation is at the expense of tho Bulgarian share. Probably— though I cannot state tliis as an ascertained fact—Servia, as the prico of her extra aid tp Bulgaria at Adrianople, has stipulated for a modification of the antebellum territorial arrangement, and that modification will ho arrived at peacefully. But between Greece and Bulgaria there is no territorial agreement, and actually at. a very critical period of the war they Were squabbling fiercely over the right to possess Salonika. The latest cablegrams show that the Bulgarians and Greeks arc now on the vorge'of war in the Salonika district, _ and the- Servians are assembling in the samo neighbourhood with the intention of helping the Greeks. A struggle between the victors over the spoils might afford some consolation to the defeated Turk, but it would be fraught with danger to tho rest of Europe. ,The position at Scutari, is equally disquieting, for it is very doubtful whether the Montenegrins will withdraw without a struggle from that city at the bidding of Austria, or even at the demand of the combined Powers. If not, what will be the next development? How long will the Powers be able to act together for the purpose of maintaining tho peace and securing a more or less permanent and satisfactory settlement in the Near East? So many conflicting interests are involved that it may prove impossible to avert a catastrophe. The Westminster Gazette, discussing this.phase of the matter; _ recently remarked that "there is evidence in all directions that the long strain on the nerves of the watching Powers is beginning to toll." The trouble unfortunately is not exclusively a Balkan affair. Russia and Austria have been watching one another very suspiciously for some time past, and only, a few days ago the Nancy incident showed that the long-standing feud between France and Germany is liable to break out afresh at any moment and with very little provocation. Great Britain is, of course, almost as closely concerned in tho development of events as the Continental nations, for -her interests might be seriously threatened by any important alteration in the balance of power in Europe. The whole situation is certainly, ..critical, but if Europeans, 'politicians, press, and public resolutely discourage provocative words and deeds, and the position is faced in a firm, yet conciliatory, spirit, the difficulties in the way of keeping the peace should not prove insuperable.