Peace Conference Halted By Turks.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 18, 1912:
They Cannot Treat with Greece, Which Did Not Sign Armistice and Is Continuing War.
TO ASK NEW INSTRUCTIONS
Greek and Turkish Fleets Again Clash — Ambassadors of the Powers Hold First Sitting.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Dec. 17.— After a few hours' session to-day the Turco-Balkan peace conference adjourned until Thursday without getting down to serious business. This was solely due to the fact that the credentials of the Turkish delegates did not authorize them to treat with the delegates from Greece, which did not sign the armistice at Tchatalja and is still continuing hostilities.
    There was no ill feeling between the delegates over the difficulty which was discussed most amicably. The Turks were reminded that they negotiated for peace with Italy while still at war in Tripoli. It was also recalled to them that Dr. Daneff, the senior Bulgarian delegate, when signing the armistice and arranging with the Turks for the London conference, stated that Greece would not consent to a suspension of hostilities. The representatives of the three other Balkan States made it clear that they would enter into no negotiations without Greece. After a friendly discussion, the conference agreed to adjourn to allow the Turks to obtain supplementary instructions from Constantinople.
    The question of Greece adding its signature to the armistice was not raised at the conference. It is generally believed that the difficulty will be settled when the conference reassembles, although it is impossible to foresee what the new instructions to the Turkish delegates will be, especially as another naval engagement has taken place between the Turkish and Greek fleets, while the political situation at Constantinople is reported to be disquieting.
    According to a dispatch to The Times from the Dardanelles, the Turkish fleet again left for the Aegean Sea yesterday morning. At the entrance to the Dardanelles they re-engaged the Greek fleet, which, after an hour's firing, apparently withdrew.