INTRODUCTION. 17 
action of the Minister of Finance that the parcel post communication with foreign 
countries at any rate is conducted with some approach to punctuality, and until order 
has been restored in railway traffic the international exchange of goods will remain 
dependent upon this insufficient branch of the transport-service. It is to be hoped 
that the prevailing chaos will soon be removed, for until this is done there is no 
possibility of any profitable development of trade with Servia. 
In connection with the rumours of the projected new political Balkan alliance, 
reports are constantly cropping up again of a Customs-Union of the Balkan States’). 
So long ago as the year 1907 such a Union had been projected between Servia and 
Bulgaria, but it has never been realized. Similarly, all more ambitious schemes have 
so far proved abortive, and it is hardly likely that there will be any chance of their 
realization so far as can be foreseen. The only arrangement which may perhaps be 
carried out in the near future is a customs- and railway tariff convention between 
Servia and Greece. It is said, in fact, that a customs-convention is already being 
drafted. There is also a project of creating a bonded-zone for Servian goods at the 
port of Salonica, within which Servian commerce will enjoy far-reaching privileges. 
The Greek Government is also credited with wishing to conclude treaties with Roumania 
and Austria-Hungary. Negotiations for a treaty between Bulgaria and Turkey have 
already been pending for a long time. 
Turkey, after her defeat in the war, is gradually beginning to recover from its 
misfortunes, and the prospects for the sale of our goods have improved again during 
the last few months, since the conclusion of peace with Greece has at length restored 
quietness in the political situation of the Ottoman Empire after a disturbance lasting 
over two years. The chief task now before Turkey is to succeed in also restoring 
healthier conditions within the country itself, for it is evident that the present unrest 
must seriously damage credit. Since her heavy losses of European territory to the 
victors, the centre of gravity of Turkish interests has shifted to Asia Minor, which 
country may in future acquire a similar importance for the peace of Europe as the 
Balkan Peninsula has possessed in the past, seeing that all the Great Powers have 
interests there. 
According to the “Aussenhandel””) the territory which has been lost to Turkey by 
the conclusion of peace is divided among the several victorious States in the following 
proportions: — 
1000 Sq. Kilometres. Millions of inhabitants. 
Hee: eM fee lgee HOw 
BEA een i ge OO 120 4,3 D 
BOWE COMET Bec fs a 20 108 2,6 4,2 
OMA Oe kiero a, Lol 139 7,25 7:50 
LET SPR GN TE ae era ee) 90 5) 4,1 
PIOUCHESTO. (0. Ale... |. 9 16 0,25 0,50 
[L217 RO OO 5 of See 32 == 0,85 
Egypt has also suffered indirectly through the Balkan war, which followed close 
upon the unrest caused to it by the war in Tripoli. The calling-up of Greek merchants 
to the colours, monetary sacrifices in favour of Turkey, suspension of trade with Syria, 
diminution in the number of visitors from abroad, all these factors have impeded the 
development of trade last year. 
1) Deutscher Aussenhandel, 14, No.5. — *) XIV. No. 2. 
