THE BALKAN CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3018, 14 October 1908, Page 5

THE BALKAN CRISIS.

THE SECRET AGREEMENT. STATEMENT BY BARON A EH RENT HAL. Received October 13, 10 a.m. VIENNA, October 12. Baron Aehrenthal, Austrian Foreign Minister, addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Delegations, contended that the secret agreement, reference tc which was cabled 0;i the 7th inst, was virtually annulled by the Constantinople Convention of 21st April, 187U _ (?), which did not mention provisional occupation. He remarket] that the secret agreement of 1878 was signed against Austria's will, because Turkey wanted to break up the Berlin Congress at the last moment, and Count Andrassy thought occupation would suffice for t:ia immeJiate future. ' The Paris correspondent of "The Times" revealed the fact that when the Berlin Treaty had been negotiated, Count Andrassy, on behalf of Austria, had signed y secret agreement with Turkey, promising that Turkey's sovereign rights in the two provinces would not suffer an infringement, and that the Austrian occupation would be considered temporary. Received October 14, 12.3S a.m. LONDON, October 1,3. "The Times" Paris correspondent shows that the convention *of 1879 declared the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be unaffected by Turkey's sovereignty there. AN EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT. DANGEROUS PRINCIPLE. Received October 13, 10 a.m.. LONDON, October 12. The "Daily Telegraph" comments on the extraordinary statement made by Baron Aehrenthal. and "The Times" declares that the principle involved is dangerous, adding: "Austria signed so many treaties against her will!" ANOTHER STORY. Received October 13, 9 a.m. BERLIN, October 12. The newspaper "Fremdenblatt," in an inspired article, states that Germany, Russia and Austria secretly agreed in 3881 that Austria was at liberty to take Bosnia and Herzegovina whenever it was considered convenient to do so. BRITISH POLICY IN THE NEAR EAST. NEED FOR NAVAL SUPREMACY.. Received October 13, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, October 12. The British Frime Minister, the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, speaking at Leeds, claimed that the whole nation approved the British policy in the Near East. He reiterated the statement—"There will be no retrenching on the margin of our assured naval supremacy, which for us as a nation is a margin of safety."

ALLAYING WARLIKE EXCITEMENT. ; ' AN ALLEGED VOTE. Received October 13, 10.8 p.m. LONDON, October 13. It was reported yesterday that the Narodna-Skuptschina had adopted a resolution by 93 votes to 66 against a declaration of war. It now appears that no vote was taken on the subject and the statement was deliberately circulated by the Servian Government on Sunday in order to allay warlike excitement ; n the streets. WAR SUPPLIES VOTED. Received October 13, 10.8 p.m. CETTINJE, October 13. The Montenegrin Parliament at a secret sitting voted all the Government's requests for war supplies. SOFIA, October 13. Prince Ferdinand had a great reception at Sofia. THE SAFEGUARDING OF SERVIAN INTERESTS, Received October 13, 11.30 p.m. BELGRADE, October 13. The Norodna-Skuptschina unanimously gave the Government a free hand to safeguard the Servian interests: It has voted 16 million francs to make the army efficient. BARON AERENTHAL SCATHINGLY CRITICISED. A SCAPEGOAT OR A PEACEOFFERING. Received October 14, 12.38 a.m. LONDON, October 13. ! German newspapers scathingly criticise Baron Aerenthal. I "The Times' " Berlin correspondi ent asks whether Baron Aerenthal was selected as a scapegoat or a I peace-offering on the altar of TurkoGerman friendship. AUSTRIA AND THE CONFERENCE]. ' Received October 14, 12.38 a.m. 1 CONSTANTINOPLE, Oct. 13. It is stated at Constantinople that Austria's attitude in connection with the Conference is stillundecided, but that there is some reason to believe that eventually Z' 2 will accept the Powers' decision under certain reservations.