MarchoH.] 



[Warsaw. 



The Austrian Heir Apparent hurrying Austria into 

 war while the Old Emperor hangs back. 



Marcholt.] [Warsaw. 



Austria's Position ; uncomfortable although in the 

 arms of Germany. 



London, Dec. 3, 1912. 

 By the signing of the 



The Balkan League armistice to-day the 

 V.Europe. Balkan League brought 

 to a close their whirl- 

 wind war against Turkey, which in 

 seven short weeks — but how crowded 

 with movement, how shadowed by 

 human sacrifice ! — solved in no uncertain 

 manner the Near Eastern question. The 

 Turks, following the advice of those 

 nations who most truly wish them well, 

 turned a deaf ^ar to the blandishments 

 of Austria and Germany, and took the 

 bold step of ending the war. All praise 

 is due to the venerable Kiamil Pasha 

 and his advisers in that they preferred 

 to save the rest of the Turkish Empire, 

 rather than continue a struggle which 

 could but have ended in still more 

 grievous spoliation, and by other 

 Powers again. The cessation of hostili- 

 ties should be speedily followed by a 

 treaty of peace, following out the broad 

 outlines discussed at Chatalja. The 

 defection of Greece is of no consequence, 

 even if she remain outside the Balkan 

 League. Disappointment and lack of 

 statesmanlike perception that sincerity 

 is better than double deahng may well 

 mean that Greece will receive small 



augmentation of territory on the main- 

 land. Her secret understanding with 

 Austria, together with her anger on 

 learning that Salonica was not to be 

 hers, led her to endeavour to break up 

 the armistice negotiations. But Ser\da 

 and Bulgaria, and Turkey also, were not 

 so foolish as to play Austria's game. It 

 was one more proof, if Europe needed 

 more, that the day is past when the 

 " Great Powers " can dictate or even 

 really influence events as they will. It 

 is no exaggeration to say that the 

 Balkan League and Turkey can arrange 

 matters to suit themselves as to essen- 

 tials, and there is not one Power in 

 Europe ready to force any question^ t^Vac, 

 an issue with them. The sooner this 

 fact is understood the quicker will the 

 spurious discussions of universal war 

 cease and the world resume its normal 

 condition. 



The new Power which 



The Future of the has ariscu in Europe is 



Balkan League, ^q ephemeral creation 



which will pass away 

 when the plenipotentiaries have signed 

 the treaty of peace. It is a factor to 

 be reckoned \\ith, and is likely to become 

 more formidable in the near future. It 

 is not only from the newly acquired 



