Montenegro, Angry, Submits.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 26, 1913:
Protests to Powers, but Concedes Austria's Demand — Speech by Grey.
By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Wednesday, March 26.— The Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, announced in the House of Commons yesterday an agreement between the powers on the future northern frontiers of Albania following the lines of Sunday's dispatch to The New York Times.
    The Secretary congratulated Europe on having "weathered the storm," and urged Turkey and the Balkan allies to accept the conditions of peace proposed by the powers.
    In view, he added, of the powers' decision, further attacks on the besieged city of Scutari would be "criminal folly," which would alienate the sympathy of Europe.
    Premier Asquith declared that no serious point of difficulty or danger remained among the powers themselves. He spoke of an "enormous and unspeakable debt of gratitude" to the powers for their self-control and self-denial, and added that he wished it to go forth as the considered desire of the united British people that the fighting between Turkey and the allies should cease at once.
    While described, as mediation by Sir Edward Grey, the action of the great powers in regard to the Balkans is nothing more or less than an ultimatum. Collective diplomatic action will be taken at Belgrade and Cettinje. Montenegro has already shown her readiness to bow to superior force by her acquiescence in the Austrian demands, and it is unlikely that the other Balkan nations will disregard the veiled threats, conveyed in Sir Edward Grey's speech on behalf of the great powers, that financial support will be refused in the case of obduracy.
    Sir Edward's remarks as to the allies were pertinent. He pointed out to them the expediency of accepting the terms proposed by the powers by way of mediation, by which, he added, he did not mean to say that the powers had made up their minds to enforce compulsory arbitration or impose terms.
    Sir Edward sugared the pill by stating that, by accepting those terms promptly and completely, both parties would obtain important advantages. The allies would be able to divide the Turkish territory surrendered to them free from outside interference, whereas, should they insist on another frontier or endanger the position of Turkey in Asia, one or more of the powers would inevitably intervene, not as disinterested mediators, but as interested parties.
    However Sir Edward Grey's statements may be disguised in diplomatic language, they are simply an ultimatum from the great powers of Europe to the Balkan Confederation.
    Turkey's acceptance of the terms offered is taken for granted. In fact, Turkey has nothing to lose now by acceptance. The Balkan States will probably bow to the inevitable, though, as the Minister of one of them said in private conversation last night, only to superior force. "The great powers," he added, "are acting like a bully who comes on the field where small boys are weakened by fighting, and says the combat must cease.
    "Intervention at an early stage might have averted bloodshed altogether, but the bully's volition was hampered by conflicting interests. He was not of one mind, and even now he is afraid that something may happen to make him falter in his resolutions."
    Nevertheless, the general opinion is that the Balkan States will accept the diplomatically gilded pill. Their refusal would put a severe strain upon the European concert of powers, attained with such difficulty.

By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to The New York Times.
    VIENNA, March 25.— Montenegro has replied to the Austrian ultimatum by addressing a note to all the powers declaring that Austria's action is a breach of neutrality, but she has promised to comply with the chief Austrian demand and to allow the civilian population of Scutari to leave the city. A note to the same effect has been handed to the Austrian Legation at Cettinje.
    Though there is some indignation at the form of Montenegro's reply, its substance is not unsatisfactory, and it is probable that the dispute will not go further.
    Great satisfaction is expressed here to-night with Sir Edward Grey's speech, in Parliament. It is now believed that a final settlement is imminent.

    LONDON, Wednesday, March 26.— Montenegrin delegates were sent yesterday morning to Essad Pasha, the commander of Scutari, to notify him of the decision to allow the civil population to leave the city.
    As it is believed that Essad Pasha will offer no objection, both Austria and Italy are sending steamers with provisions, medical stores, doctors, and nurses to assist the people when they march out of the besieged town.
    The Montenegrin Government has also promised to make a thorough inquiry into the alleged interference by Montenegrins with the Austrian steamer Skodra and has agreed to allow Austrian representatives to take part in the investigation into the death of the priest Palic, who was killed, according to the charges, because he refused to abandon his faith, and into the reported forcible conversion of Catholics.
    It is reported from Vienna and Belgrade that representations will be made at an early date by the powers both at Belgrade and Cettinje with a view to obtaining the speedy evacuation of territory recognized by the Ambassadors as part of Albania.

    BELGRADE, March 25.— The bombardment of the Turkish fortress of Scutari by the Montenegrin and Servian besiegers was, it is understood, stopped yesterday on orders from the Servian Government, acting on the advice of the French and Russian Ministers here, who notified the Servian Premier that the European powers had come to the unalterable decision that Scutari must belong to the future State of Albania.

    CETTINJE, March 25.— The Montenegrin Government in replying to the Austro-Hungarian note agrees to take steps to permit the civilian population of the fortress of Scutari to leave the city.
    At the same time Montenegro informs Austria that the Montenegrin Government has addressed a note to the European powers protesting against Austria-Hungary's action, which it calls a breach of neutrality.