FRESH DANGER IN THE BALKANS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2168, 5 June 1914, Page 6

FRESH DANGER IN THE BALKANS

The situation in the Near East is onee fltorc cause foi? aiisiety, A cablegram which appears m another column state's that the London Times is. of ' opinion that fresh dangers are' gatacHttg, and if the present rivalry atnoivg the Balkan States contiaaes tho i'csuit is alnjast certain to bo war ei' bankrviptoy, or both. The .now ruler of Albania docs, not appear to- bo strong, enough to maintain pftaco among l«s subjects, and it is feared that other nations may be drawn into the conflict. The AibanUtn question and Cith.ef allied matters have caused friction betw«je.ii Austria and Italy, the iiims aad' iatei'«sfe of these two nations-in regard to Albania- are .not easy to re* eoneile, and Italy is also dissaii.afi.ed by reason of the- treatment meted otib ta Austrian subjects of the Italian race. Jhe Serbs arc- <td present ■embittered against Ati.stf.ia., and' if Italy should s'eo fit to fan t!w fiaiite. serious twabfo _ might tcsnli, Tho wholo position is «*>,s complicated as it is uncertain. The Moridn-ff P.osl, while admitting ifeit it docs not understand what Italy is aiming at, realises '.the difficulties and dangers isf the situation.

Ita?y does w>t want a : p.,v mn'i'itfmo Power to ha- nixls to make Use of hiii'liuiii's flu (:ho IJaflcaiv side of ttio Adriatic (says tiio "Post"). So Qreeccj which lias a good rawly sniloi l *, is So bo ke-iit iu bounds don!,' tiie Adriatie, ami Alh&nia, wfr.ieh is not iikoly yet' awhile to haw a Bt'fft, is to bo iiiniio as largo as p&ssifilv, aful to bo kept in, twilling strings, Pwt Aitstj'sa-Httiigary is- fivwly resolved tiint Italy shall wit cross ihe Adriatic, 'ftsero aro plenty of reniini'Secnces of Italy there. l%s cijftbt from the BMehe di Cttttaro iiorUtW-aris lias a population hull Jtalinn for it hs-mI to he under the iaflitcnco of Venice, and tiio pcuplo, whs aro laosti}" .Serb-S, iMidcrstaud Italian. Thus, two rival Powers aro trying te work harntußioijsly in spite ef ilteii- rivalry, wliiiih th«y kwj) out of sight as weH as they can. ilicv are in ira.rtnorsli.ifl ve crento Albania, If (.hoy ai'e to suteecd iiic.y -am-st Ise csi'i;fu! iffl't only t& forget tiio past but la deal tarefwlly With tho jn'ossnt. There is undoubtedly.'& general state of uhrest 'in the Balfcttas. Each nation is watching the other, with suspicion and jealousy, and ilia Great Po\yers are awaiting develop■ffleats with no little anxiety. Quite recently the Servian' Cabinet decided to convoke the Graad As s 'scmkly, whkh is only called together to discuss suclt important' National questions as changes in the sueces* sion, the Constitution, .<?s■ the. t-erri-to*ies of the kingdom. The Assembly may, of course, ,o»ly deal with internal affairs, bat in view, of the'present unsettled otittiook its convtwation may possibly have- a wider significance. It must ho remembered that the. boundariEs of Albania kavel not yet been finally fixed, and what-; .ever is decided upw in this: matter is nor; likely to give general satisfaction to. those iiiirofrdiatfiiy -con* terned. It is bard to believe,, however, that the Balkan States will lightly enter into another war, and if there is to be any further fighting in Albania.a strotijj cftoH will prubahly be made to prevent it Irem upreniliilg to ally of the. neighbouring Stales. ;.