Admits Europe Was Close To War.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 8, 1913:
Sir Edward Grey Says It Would Have Come Had Not Powers Agreed as to Albania.
MUST COERCE MONTENEGRO
She Is Engaging In a War of Conquest, Says the British Foreign Secretary, and the Powers Must Act.
    LONDON, Tuesday, April 8.— That there would have been a European conflagration but for the agreement reached by the powers regarding the frontiers of the future State of Albania was the opinion expressed by Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, in the House of Commons yesterday.
    Sir Edward was emphasizing the importance of the international character of the naval demonstration now being made on the Montenegrin coast and the importance of upholding the European agreement on the subject of Albania, when he made the following grave statement:
    "That agreement is essential to the peace of Europe, and, in my opinion, it was only accomplished just in time to preserve the peace among the great powers."
    Sir Edward explained that Great Britain had become a party to the naval demonstration because it was necessary to uphold the agreement reached by the powers regarding the future autonomous Albania. He continued:
    "The war now proceeding has long since ceased to have any bearing upon the war between Turkey and the Balkan Allies or to be a war of liberation. The operations being conducted by Montenegro against Scutari are part of a war of conquest, and there is no reason why the same sympathy felt for Montenegro and other countries contending for their liberty and national existence should not be extended to the Albanian population of Scutari and the district, who are mainly Catholics and Moslems and who are contending for their land, their religion, and their lives."
    The Foreign Secretary pointed out that the arrangement of the boundaries left a large tract of territory for division between Montenegro and Servia, and concluded:
    "That the agreement should be upheld by international action remains essential for the continuance of peace among the great powers. It is because we believe it is in accordance with humanity, with liberty, and with justice, and because we know that the peace of Europe depends upon the maintenance of concord among the powers most directly interested, that we have undertaken the honorable obligation to take part in the action new proceeding to uphold the agreement and make it respected."
    The powers propose that, unless Montenegro complies with their wishes in regard to Scutari, the blockade of the Montenegrin ports of Antivari and Dulcigno shall begin in two days.
    Austria is urging that the blockade be extended to the Albanian ports occupied by the Servians, and that special steps be taken at Belgrade, as Servia is now playing the chief role in the siege of Scutari. No decision has as yet been taken on this point.