THE BALKAN CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3029, 28 October 1908, Page 5

THE BALKAN CRISIS.

THE PORTE'S REPLY. SUBJECTS FOR THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE. Received October 27, 8.4 a.m. CONSTANTINOPLE, October 26. Kiamil Pasha, Turkish Grand Vizier, has requested Germany to advise Austria to accept a Conference of the Powers. The Porte's reply to enquiries by Great Britain, France and Russia awaits the Sultan's approval, which will be given next Saturday, after the Feast of Bairam, and it will then be communicated to the Powers mentioned. | Turkey accepts as subjects for the European Conference: — 1. Consideration of the status of Bulgaria and Bosnia, and Herzegovina. 2. The compensation due to Turkey owing to the alteration of such status. In addition the Porte asks the six great Powers (Russia, Italy, Germany, Britain, France, and AustroHungary) to guarantee Turkey against any further aggression. Turkey is also prepared to discuss a modification of the capitulation (or agreement) in connection with the Cretan question if that question arises, but with the reservation that discussion shall be between the Porte and the protecting Powers exclusively. The reply adds that Servia's and Montenegro's claims for compensation do not concern Turkey, which will leave the discussion thereof to Austria - Hungary and her aggrieved neighbours. AUSTRIAN AGGRESSION. Received October 27, 9 a.m. LONDON, October 26. A Belgrade message state 3 that Austrian soldiers have occupied a email Servian island in the River Drina. CZAR AND CROWN PRINCE. INVITATION TO VISIT ST. PETERSBURG. I Received October 26, 9 a.m. ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 26. The Czar invited the Servian Crown Prince to visit St. Petersburg, but his motives for doing so have not transpired. INTERRUPTION OF DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS. A DENIAL. Received October 27, 10.58 p.m. LONDON, October 27. Sir Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary) has authorised the following statement:—"The reports of the Austrian press, that the interruption of direct negotiations between Turkey and Austria was due to Britain's advice and influence, are totally devoid of foundation. Throughout the negotiations Britain's view has been that a direct arrangement between Turkey and Austria, if satisfactory to Turkey, would smooth the way for a general settlement, but it was for Turkey to decide whether the proposals made were acceptable, as she was the best judge ot her own interests."

An interesting account of one of the chief racial elements of the unstable political situation, is given in "Servia and the Servians." The author i* Chedo Mijatovich, a former bervian Minister in London. He gives a short summary of his nation's story, from the days when the first Servian immigrants came from the northern slopes of the Carpathians to settle, 13 centuries ago, in the old Byzantine provinces which now form the kingdom of Servia, the principality of MonteI negro, the Austrian districts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the north-western parts of Macedonia. We read of a powerful Servian Empire in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries; of Turkish oppression for 400 years; of rebellions early in last century under rival chiefs of the two ruling houses—the Obrenovich, which died out, when the late King Alexander was murdered in 1903, and the Karageorgevich, which is now represented by King Peter; of the gradual emancipation of the country until it became an independent sovereign State; and of its vicissitudes under King Milan, Alexander, and Peter. All political parties in Servia are, it appears, at one in their desire for the realisation of what is called the "National Programme." That programme has for its principal object the liberation of all the Servian provinces—Bosnia, Herzegovina and certain Macedonian vilayets—from Austrian and Turkish control and their union, together with Serb Montenegro, into one Servian kingdom or republic. The total number of Servians in all these territories is about 6,000,000. Thus it .nay be seen that Servian aspirations are incompatible with the maintenance of the status quo. There is a party in the country which is not very friendly to Russia, although it cannot fairly be classed as favourable to Russia's Balkan competitor, Austria; but the majority, including both the Liberal and Radical parties is fanatically devoted to Russia. The pro-Russians preach what they term the "Salvonic Idea," a somewhat ambiguous doctrine, which is commonly understood to mean the union of all the Salvonic nations, Bulgaria as well as Serb, into one Commonwealth, with Constantinople as the capital, and the Czar as head of the Slav empire. Mr Mijatovich says that his countrymen are preoared to oppose an Austrian advance, even by force of arms, and to prevent it seeking to form a triple alliance with Bulgaria and Montnegro.