The Balkan War

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 280, 18 April 1913, Page 5

The Balkan War

EVACUATION OF SCUTARI.

By Cable —Press .Association—Copyright.

Cettinje, April 10,

The Servian commander was to-day 1 instructed immediately to withdraw hia troops from Scutari.

BULGARIAN OPPRESSION.

Sofia, April 10.

M. .fjikoff, exfllinistcr, after a tour of Macedonia, -piesented an, interpellation to the Soubranje, charging the Greeks and Servians with oppressing the .Balkans.

HANDS OFF I

Received 18, 12.45 a.m.

Cettinje, April 17.

The Porte has ordered Essad Pasha to abstain from being offensive during the Servian's'

POWERS AND THE BALKANS.

SIR EDWARD GREY'S STATE

•MF.NT.

(Australian Special Cable' Service.) v 'London, April 7.

' Sir Edward Grey, Britain's Foreign Minister, made an important statement in the House of Commons to-day regarding affairs in the Near East. He said that the batleship H.M.S. King Edward VII. and a cruiser, H.M.S. Dartmouth, had proceeded to Monte- : negro, but the laiiding of naval brigades or field guns oor actual bombardment v.would not take pplaee without further instructions. The Minister went on to explain that Britain became ajpirty to tho demonstration at Antivari-'because she was already a party, with the other Great ; Powers, to an agreement .which provided' that there should >be. an autonomous Alabama.

She willingly became a party to this agreement, for t'je reason that tbs Albanians were separate from the Balkan . •Allies in race, language, and, to a gfeat. extent, in religion. . 'The war which was proceeding, continued Sir Edward, had long ceased to be a war of liberation, and the operations of the Montenegrins againsWScutari were part of a war of conquest. 'The agreement between the Great Powers respecting the frontiers of Albania was reached after long and labori- ■ eras: diplomatic effort, and it was decided -that the littoral of Scutari should be Albanian, while Ipek, Prisrend, Dibrek atid, after much negotiation, Jakova, •should be excluded from Albania.

■"This arrangement..' said the Minister, "leaves a large tract of territory to 'be divided between Servia and 'Montenegro as the fruits of victory.

"The making of the agreement is essential to-the peace of Europe, and >n my opinion it was accomplished only just in time to preserve peace between the •Great Powers.

"That-agreement, if disputed, should be upheld by international action. It remains essential for the continuance of that peace.

"We believe that it is in accord with humanity, liberty and justice, and we have undertaken an honorable obligation to take part in the international action now proceeding to uphold it and make it respected." Sir 'Edward Grey's -remarks were listened to with breathless interest, and ■ when he silt down several members on "the 'Ministerial side <rf the House expressed a wish to discuss the situation.

3Jr. Asqiiith deprecated this proposal, ■but said that he was willing to acquiesce if the Opposition was also desirous of "having the matter debated. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bonar Law, vigorously opposed the idea, Mt. A. E. W. Mason, Liberal member for Coventry, moved the adjournment of .the House in order that the matter might be discussed, but an insufficient number of members of the House rose to support liim, and the motion'lapsed.