Scutari And Albania.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 24, 1913:
    The entrance of the Montenegrins into Scutari may complicate the final settlement of the Balkan question somewhat, but there are reasons why it is not likely to prevent or greatly to defer it. Chief of these is the fact that the European Powers have agreed that Albania shall be erected into an independent State, and that Scutari shall be included therein. Another is that among her Balkan allies Montenegro can find none that will give substantial support to her claim to Scutari. Servia at one time backed that claim with arms, but withdrew and will not risk losing what she can gain with the assent of the Powers by opposing their plans as to Albania.
    An independent Albania is in some respects an absurdity. It is thinly populated; considerable portions are almost without population; its people are of varied nationalities and religions; most of them are semi-barbarous mountain tribes, often at war with each other; its roads are few and bad. It is difficult to conceive of any really autonomous organization in the country that could maintain order or develop the resources of the land. Provision will have to be made for some degree of European supervision and practical control, and this question will prove a knotty one. But we have the word of Sir Edward Grey that an independent Albania was actually the one plan that saved Europe from a general conflict. Apparently being unable to agree to whom Albania should go, the Powers concluded to erect it into a State, the management of which was left for future devising. In this way it will block the way of Servia to the Adriatic, check the aspirations of Russia as the head of the Slav races, and furnish a basis for future Austrian advance if opportunity offers. It is an offset to the general gains which the Triple Alliance has secured from the amazing victories of the Balkan allies.
    Meanwhile the allies seem to be doing a little manoeuvring for position among themselves. That is probably the explanation of the movements, or reports of movements, of Greek and Bulgarian troops about Salonika. It is hardly thinkable that either of the two Governments would be mad enough to come to blows over the spoils of a triumph in which each nation has borne so creditable a part, and in which they have so abundantly proved the advantages of co-operation. Both Governments have acted with great courage, energy, skill, and loyalty in the hard struggle which has resulted so favorably. As the original alliance was largely the work of the Greek Premier, and as Greece has won rich fruits from it, it would be the height of folly to imperil these by a quarrel with Bulgaria. United the allies can settle the Balkan question almost to suit themselves. If they fall to fighting among themselves they will simply invite the Powers to come in and despoil them.