At this writing matters are still uncertain in the southeast of Europe. So far as the smaller Balkan powers are concerned, all have sent their representatives to London to the Peace Conference, including Turkey, but Austria still menaces the peace of Europe. December 10 it was reported that the entire Austrian navy had been concentrated at their chief naval station, evidently in order to overawe Servia in her attempt to appropriate the port of Durazzo on the Adriatic Sea.
From the "Illustrated London News"
One report declares that the newspaper "Provda," voicing the feeling of Servia, says: "If Austria desires war with Servia, it will come, and will be the most bitter fight in history. Every Servian man and woman, young or old, will take part in it, and Austria will have to exterminate the entire Servian nation before conquering."
Russia's attitude, it is said, is unchanged, and yet she feels that there is no irreconcilable difference between Servia and Austria, that if there were any kind of conciliatory disposition at all, the peace would be made.
December 9 it was reported that Austria had seized a ship loaded with flour, on its way to the Servian army, and that this flour had been taken for the use of the Austrian army. These, however, are reports, which need confirmation. Under date of December 10, it is said that the Austrian minister at Belgrade has been instructed to present a note to Servia on December 11, "couched in sharp terms," inquiring as to whether Servia proposes to bring her policy into line with that of Austria. It is not, however, an ultimatum. The "Daily Mail" of London, in a despatch from St. Petersburg, declares that five Austrian army corps, consisting of about 40,000 men each, are placed on a war footing. The authorities are alarmed. Many of the troops are ready to take the field.
From Vienna, the same date, it is said that the Servian ex-Premier, M. Novakovitch, in passing through the Austrian capital on his way to London to take part in the peace negotiations, said that the antagonism between the standpoints of Servia and Austria were so great that it appeared hardly possible it could be bridged, but Dr. Daneff, the Bulgarian peace delegate, says there is no cause for alarm as long as the powers are in agreement, and Servia is ready to recognize the interests of others. And so we have it on both sides.
From New York, the same date, comes a report said to be from the bankers — Kuhn, Loeb & Company and the National City Bank of New York — who have recently negotiated a loan of $25,000,000 to Austria, that the money was loaned under the express understanding that the political situation is much improved, and that there is no reason for apprehending warlike developments between the great powers.
The American ambassador at Constantinople intends leaving Constantinople soon, and has expressed his belief that the Peace Conference at London will reach an amicable settlement. What will be asked of Turkey, news from Paris states, is all the lands which the allies have conquered, with the exception of Adrianople eastward to Midia by way of Visa, and from Adrianople southward along the railroad to Dedeaghatch on the Aegean Sea. It is stated that the diplomats, during their discussion at Baghtche, agreed on this basis of negotiation. It is also stated that Austria and Germany have refused to join in the conference if the Adriatic seaport question is to be brought up against their will. Any peace arrangements made by the delegates of Turkey and by the Bulgarian nations at the Peace Conference, will probably have to be ratified by the ambassadors of the great powers who will meet, first in London, to consider political affairs, and afterward in Paris, to discuss purely financial problems.
The best that can be said is that peace is not assured as yet, that conditions are still quite critical as between Austria and Servia, but that the other powers are working for peace, and hope that matters between these two nations may be patched up. The conditions, however, show on how slender a thread the peace of the world hangs.
