8 BALKAN CRISIS OF 1912 



the 13,511 houses of Ipek Kaza at the beginning of the 2Oth century were 46,015 Moslem 

 and Catholic Albanians, 21,390 Serbs, and 150 Gipsies. These results hardly justify Slav- 

 ethnological claims to Ipek, the more so as the balance has swung further against the Serbs 

 in the last ten years. In Djakova there are not 5 per cent of Serbs. In Rozhaj Kaza, north 

 of Ipek, the Albanians have a four to one majority. Prisrend was once the seat of Servian 

 Kirigs. But to-day, according to the best available information, four-fifths of the population 

 of Prisrend Kaza are Albanians. Even further east the Albanians are in a majority. There 

 are less than 150 Serb houses in the Kaza of Katchanik; if Mitrovitza is mainly Servia 

 Vuchitrn is Arnaut, and Albanians form the majority of the population of the Prishtinaand 

 Ghilan districts. In all Kossovo north of the Shar range, omitting the Kaza of Katchanik 

 but including the Sanjak of Novi Bazar, there were in the first years of the 2Oth century at 

 least 300,000 Moslem and Catholic Albanians, against 120,000 Christian and perhaps 30^000 

 Moslem Serbs. These figures scarcely support the contention of Goptchevitch and other 

 writers, ever ready to create "facts' in support of their propaganda that Old Servia is 

 predominantly Slav. Historical claims founded on temporary occupation or on episodes 

 such as the conquests of Stephan Dushan are not too strong. If the Serbs once overran 

 all Albania, the Turks overran Servia and Hungary. As for the theory that the majority of 

 the Moslems of Old Servia are in reality "Albanized and Islamized Serbs," the fact that th<i 

 present majority of the population of Old Servia differs in language and religion from the 

 Servian minority is surely a sufficient answer." 



Albanian " nationalism," in fact, is a question which really provides difficulties of its 

 own for the future government of this part of the Balkan area. On November 28th a 

 further complication was introduced by a movement started by the Albanian leader, 

 Ismail Kemal Bey, under whom as " president of the provisional government" the 

 independence of Albania was proclaimed by a " national assembly " at Valona. This 

 step, combined with the determination of the Powers not to allow the extreme Servian 

 demand to act as an apple of discord, resulted in relaxing the tension as regards Austria 

 during December; and meanwhile events were proceeding more satisfactorily in the direc- 

 tion of peace negotiations between the Balkan Allies and Turkey. 



On November 2gth discussion began at Chatalja over the terms of an armistice, 

 and on December 3rd an agreement was signed fora suspension of hostilities and for peace 

 negotiations to begin in London on December i3th, the belligerents meanwhile simply 

 remaining in the positions already occupied. The armistice was signed by Bulgaria, 

 Servia, and Montenegro, but not by Greece, though Greece proposed to take part in the 

 peace negotiations; so that war still went on between Greece and Turkey. At the same 

 time there was a marked improvement in the relations of the Great Powers, owing large- 

 ly to a proposal made by Sir Edward Grey on November 27th that their representatives 

 in one of the capitals should hold informal and non-committal consultations for the 

 purpose of mutual agreement on the points on which Europe must make her voice 

 heard in, the final settlement. On December nth Sir E. Grey was able to announce 

 that all the Powers had agreed, and that their ambassadors in London would act. 



In spite of the danger to European peace which still existed in the fact that Austria, 

 and therefore Russia, kept her military preparations on a war footing, the situation 

 during December was cleared a good deal by explicit declarations of policy in Germany, 

 France and Russia. On December 2nd the German. Chancellor, speaking in the Reichs- 

 tag, said that the exchange of views between the Powers was having " favourable re- 

 sults, promising a satisfactory settlement." If, as he hoped would not be the case, 

 insoluble difficulties appeared, it would, of course, be for the Powers directly concerned 

 to give effect to their claims. " This applies to our allies. If, contrary to all expecta- 

 tions, they are attacked and find their existence menaced, we, in loyalty to our duty, 

 should have to take .our stand firm and determined at their side." This declaration of 

 solidarity as between the Powers of the Triple Alliance was coupled with a notable 

 statement by the Gertnan Foreign Minister, Hcrr von Kiderlen-Waechter (his l?.st 

 important utterance before his sudden death within a month), as to German relations 

 with England and therefore with the Triple Entente. During the recent crisis, he said, 

 German relations with England had been those of peculiar confidence, "and have rot 

 only provided a happy intimacy but have done good service to the promotion of agree- 

 ment;" and he expressed his "confident expectation that this will continue." On 

 December 5th the French Premier too made a general statement both on the Chamber 



