OCR Text |
Show CONCERT OF P0 MAY SETTLE STRIFE Armed Conflict in Near-East Threatens Peace and Tranquility Tran-quility of Europe, BY EMTL ANDRASSY. Special Cablo to Tho Tribune. VIENNA, May 7. Austria is quiotly taking the lead In an endeavor to bring about a concert of the powers for. the final settlement of the near-eastern question. ques-tion. At the expenditure of a vast deal of diplomatic energy, tho difficulties arising aris-ing from the unrest of Bulgaria and Sor-vla Sor-vla had been straightened out, the Cretan troublos had been quieted, temporarily at least; but now comes the outbreak In Albania which has assinned the proportions pro-portions of civil war, and which will tax the resources of the TurkJsli government to deal with. Tho disaffection of the Albanians Is due to conscription, an objoctlon to registering register-ing their land for taxation, and an attempt at-tempt to prevent tho uso of Roman characters char-acters In the schools. The Albanians also strongly resent tho attempt to levy octroi for purposes of beautifying Prlstina. As all the mountain tribes havo joined the revolutionaries, tho task of tho troops will not bo easy, but In time, doubtless, they will succeed In restoring order and arresting tho ringleaders, who are mostly adherents of tho ex-sultan, Abdul Hamld, who enjoyed privileged positions undor tho former regime, but lost them with tho restoration of tho constitution. Tho great danger is that tho restless Bulgars and Servians may bo drawn Into the fighting, and tho great conflagration In the near-east, which Austria has striven so hard to avert, may be kindled In spite of all offorts to prevent It. I understand that no formal propositions havo been made for concerted action on the part of the powers, but tentative suggestions havo been well received at the various chancellories. It Is hoped If the powers do Intervene now that they will settle tho questions definitely. |