Powers Combine For Balkan Peace.

New York Times 100 years ago today, September 25, 1912:
Co-operating to Prevent Threatened Conflagration, but Situation Is Very Grave.
REBELS MOVE ON SKUTARI
Wipe Out Turkish Escort of Ammunition Column — Servia Makes War Preparations.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Wednesday, Sept. 25.— The Daily Mail's Vienna correspondent says:
    "The Emperor's speech from the Throne to-day (Tuesday) has made an unfavorable impression in political circles here on account of its great reserve and the omission of all references to European peace in the future.
    "This impression was further increased by the speech of Count von Berchtold, as it is unusual for an Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister to express himself in such plain, unvarnished terms on the situation in the Balkans. A passage to the effect that Austria must be prepared for all eventualities on land and sea caused much comment.
    "The Emperor, after his speech, was heard to say to members of the delegations: 'We are faced with a very serious situation.'
    "These words, from a monarch who is accustomed to weigh every word with the greatest care, are accepted as confirmation of the gravity of the Balkan situation."

    VIENNA, Sept 24.—The Balkan situation has aroused the deepest interest in Austria, Emperor Francis Joseph has suggested an exchange of views between the powers on the important questions now at issue with respect to these States, and Count Leopold von Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, in a statement to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Delegation today, made reference to the proposals he had submitted to the powers for an exchange of views. He said that the result was the unanimous co-operation of the powers and a pledge for the prevention of a violent solution of the Balkan crisis. The Minister added:
    "It would, however, be a serious mistake if, because of this, we regarded the danger of the present situation as being averted."
    Count von Berchtold declared that the unsatisfactory conditions in European Turkey had seriously affected the neighboring countries, imposing upon their statesmen a heavy task. He hoped that their sense of responsibility would restrain them from following the impulses of the irresponsible elements.
    "But we also trust," he continued, "that Turkey will not fail to recognize the gravity of the situation and find a way to avoid complications. Our information justifies the assumption that the Turkish Government is diligently endeavoring to provide necessary guarantees for the reasonable requirements of the various nationalities. Our interests lie in the maintenance of the territorial integrity of Turkey and her internal consolidation. We regard it as the duty of Turkish statesmen to reconcile the legitimate claims of the different peoples of Macedonia with the exigencies of the Ottoman State. Honest endeavors to bring about the solution of this problem always will find our moral support."
    The Foreign Minister concluded: "Diplomacy is keeping guard to prevent the threatened conflict and stifle a possible Balkan conflagration. Our geographical position places us near the area of disturbance, and the great interests of the monarchy are at stake. Only when we are armed by land and sea can we look to the future with easy minds."
    Count von Berchtold also referred to the satisfactory progress of the Turkish-Italian peace negotiations as promising to facilitate the ending of Turkey's domestic crisis; to the community of interests of Austria and Germany in the Near East, and to Russia's sincere desire to preserve peace in the Balkans. He said that his visit to the King of Roumania had convinced him of Roumania's peaceful intentions.
    Emperor Francis Joseph, in addressing the members of the Austrian and Hungarian delegations who called at the palace this morning, said:
    "With sincere sympathy we are following the efforts of the Italian and Turkish statesmen, by means of a direct but non-committal exchange of views, to find a basis for peace which shall honorable to both."