The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1915. THE BALKAN TROUBLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 263, 10 August 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1915. THE BALKAN TROUBLE.

(With which is! incorporated Th« Tuihape Post una Wnunarino New#.)

The old Balkan differences are proving a serious barrier to imifrom thought in matters connected with the war, and form the. subject of the gxejat.est diplomatic battle that has yet presented itself. It can reasonably be claimed that the Entente has, so far, been more successful than the Alliance in word wars; each has made on e great score, but the allegiance of Turkey was fostered and made safe long before the Entente knew that Germany meant war. On the other hand, Italy, a member of the Alliance, is an achievement that stands to the credit of Entente diplomatists.' With the Balkan States th e question of fight seems to have very little significance; a

greed for territory dulls even their sense cf self-preservation, and leads them to finesse; with a power that will wipe them out of very existence. Germany is making but a poor attempt to cloak her intentions of world domination, and it is perplexing to see nations .succumbing to what appears to most peoples as inevitable. Germany wants dominion; if she can secure it by artifice, so much the better; but ,she must have,it .as this war undoubtedly demonstrates. The ainamng aspect is that ther e , are those, who, are ready to fall such .easy prey. ~, , .Thp, whole effort of , diplo- 1 rnnev now. seems to b 3 centred on an ; effort, to patch up the difforences.bep,y,ecn Eonmania, Bulgaria, Gvecce..and Serv'ia,- left standing ever from the Balkan war with Turkey and its aftermath. Bulgaria, having exhausted he,r money, credit, and, to some extent, •..l>or strength on a, second war. was \ia~\vMkefst point to attack*.and 0«r- ; many at once rushed in with offers of money, pretending’ to show that her alliance with Turkey was in no way a menace, to Bulgarian rights-Tlw

offer was accepted, and all subsequent

efforts of Entente diplomacy have not been able, to undo the mischief. Only a day or two ago the Allies made collective representations to Servia with a view to patching up the, old Balkan differences. VV hat suggestions were made, or how far the effort was likely to pi c\ a successful was not disclosed. From appearances, Bulgaria has landed cn the German side cl the fence,; Rcuiiiania and Greece still sit the rail with their faces towards the, Allies Bul-

gdiia has received a definite warning from Greses that if a hand is lifted against Sqrvia, she will take the field

in Servian interests. Ronmania seems to have boldly and diplomatically frustratecl ail efforts by Germany to make ns £ . of her ccuntry and her railways, to i help Inr key, and if a basis for the settlement of these Balkan squabbles can be found Ronmania and Greece will .readily throw in their lot with thg Allies to end the exploits of the would-be world-conqueror. Turkey being secured by Germany, greatly embarassed Britain, as it closed the Dardanelles. The Allies’ efforts to re-open them clearly indicate their importance and new that Bulgaria is showing German preference, the, Balkan situation must b e giving the Entente consider-

l able concern, as it will accentuate th e difficulty in bringing Roumania into the war, and the quality of Grecian courage will not be improved. It is bei lieved that Turkey’s concessions and Germany's financial aid will keep Bulgarian sympathies on the German side, but diplomatists evidently think otherwise,. and the whole matter seemg to rest on a strip of Macedonian territory. If the collective representations made to Servia are successful in inducing Servia to agree to a little re-arrange-ment of this territory, and Roumania and Greece, acquiesce in the proposal \ then the way is perfectly clear for a reversion to the old Balkan League, that was originally entered into as a measure against their common enemy —the Turk. The whole, diplomatic force is being exerted to suggest a division of territory that will prove to all old members of this league, and so long as operations of Entente representatives are holding frequent conference; with parties concerned, there remains hop e for believing semthing will eventually be achiev-

ed of a heartening character. The Bal

kan States ar e not the only disturbing' elements, for Sweden is giving Russia much cause f° r concern. Germany is craftily urging Sweden to push tli e old Finnish question to the fore,. Discussions in the Russian. Duma show how embarassing the Swedish attitude ha s become. Britain has endeavoured to relieve the strain, and it is not

that anv .extreme measures will he taken by Sweden, its Government seeming disposed to await the termination of the struggle, relying upon justice from those with whom internatcnal settlements are likely to be entrusted. Russia is realising more than eve" in her history, that interna-

tional righteousness which supports the plea of e”ory nation for existence. rM the right to develop socially and politically in its own way, and will consequently. now that German interference on North Sea shores is likely i o he avoided for till time. b* more

read'” t > concede full national rights to crnut”'e" on her north-east.- If this

view is impressed upon Sweden and Norway. Cu°ro is very little cause to

apprehend danger from that quarter. Tn the meantime, the Balkans and Sweden are a considerable source of trouble and embarassment.