Turks Now Demand Adrianople Be Fed.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 22, 1912:
Allies Combat Proposal, Ostensibly Offered as a Concession for Letting Greece In.
MEANS PROLONGED DELAY
French Premier Says Albania Will Be Independent — Austria Joins Other Powers In Urging Peace.
    LONDON, Dec. 21.— Playing the old game of delay, Turkey to-day caused a further postponement of the peace conference, which adjourned to Monday after a brief and fruitless session.
    The Turkish delegates are trying to gain the right to provision Adrianople by consenting to include Greece in the conference. The allies wish to proceed with the negotiations, and have openly hinted that these delays must end.
    To-day's sitting was the most important since the beginning of the conference, as  it was the first time the opposing parties had come into a serious engagement. The Montenegrin ex-Premier, Miyuskovitsch, who presided, seemed, on account of his rather severe aspect, to be the best President for stormy sittings. When he asked Rechad Pasha to communicate the answer which he had received from Constantinople there was a moment of breathless silence.
    Rechad Pasha arose and outlined the instructions received to the effect that Turkey should not treat with Greece, as the latter State had put herself out of the negotiations by refusing to adhere to the armistice. But, he added, wishing to show a conciliatory disposition, Turkey was willing to treat, on condition that the allies granted the privilege of revictualing Adrianople. This, he pointed out, was simply a humanitarian, request, as, besides the belligerents, more than 150,000 people were suffering from lack of food. Revictualing this fortress, he argued, would not change the situation as it was when the armistice was concluded, at which time the Bulgarians declared they could seize Adrianople whenever they wished or force Tchatalja.
    Rechad Pasha's statement caused a great sensation, and the Balkan delegates exchanged impressions in whispers among themselves.
    The head of the Turkish delegation continued to illustrate the Ottoman viewpoint, which aimed to limit as much as possible the sufferings from the war, by supplying to Adrianople what was strictly necessary to sustain life. The conference would then be able to proceed with the knowledge that the town was not starving, while the delegates were negotiating.
    Dr. Daneff. the chief Bulgarian plenipotentiary, countered with solid arguments against Turkey's proposition. He recalled that the armistice was an accomplished fact and was so well defined that the delegates lacked the power to change it, their mission being circumscribed to the conclusion of peace. With reference to peace, he said, there was no limit to their powers, but their credentials did not authorize them to deal with incidents already solved or outside the mission which brought them to London.
    The Greek Premier, M. Venizelos, asserted that serious damage would result to the allies if the towns were revictualed. The Servian delegate, M. Novakovitch, said the Turkish request was unacceptable, as it entirely modified the base on which the armistice was founded. Rechad pasha retorted that the proposal was already made, which was received with further opposition.
    Twice the delegates left their places and gathered in groups to see if any compromise were possible, between the opposing views, but in vain. Finally the Ottoman delegates proposed that the sitting be adjourned until Monday to enable each delegation to ask fresh instructions from the home Government.
    The Balkan delegates dined to-night at the Russian Embassy. Amid great enthusiasm they pledged each other to Russia and sent a message of loyalty addressed to the Russian Emperor.
    Servia, on the suggestion of Great Britain, France, and Russia, has declared her readiness to accept the principle of Albanian autonomy and neutralization.