Charges Nicholas With Duplicity.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 11, 1913:
A Remarkable Statement on Status of the Balkans Made by Russian 'Minister.
WOULD PRESERVE ALBANIA
Clear, Writes M. Sazonoff, That King of Montenegro Wished to Embroil Russia In European War.
By Actual State Councillor Sazonoff, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
    ST. PETERSBURG, April 30.— The principal object pursued by the Russian Government at the time of the military successes of the Balkan Allies was to assure for the victors the fruits of their victories in the largest possible measure. This object has been attained as the result of complicated and difficult negotiations, for the Allies could not look for success except by virtue of the non-intervention of the powers.
    To appreciate at its just value the importance of the services rendered by Russia toward the Balkan States the complexity of the international situation, with the collision of opposing interests, must be fully taken into account.
    The localization of the war was only possible on two conditions, firstly, the renunciation by the great powers of their individual territorial and other advantages; secondly, the renunciation of any individual action on their part. These negative conditions implied a third and positive condition, namely, the revision of the situation created by the war and its reconciliation with the interests of the great powers, interests which they could not renounce and the adjustment of which could only be effected by the European concert, whose decision should be rendered in the name of the whole of Europe.
    Hence individual action could not be taken by any of the powers except on condition of the unanimous recognition by them that the decision of Europe had a compelling force. In these circumstances the Conference of Ambassadors in London was convoked. That conference has just completed the heavy task of determining the frontiers of North and Northeastern Albania which were opposed to the interests of Montenegro and Servia, with their very natural tendency toward expansion.
    On the other hand, there were the interests of the Albanians, protected by Austria and Italy, who considered the status quo in the Adriatic of such vital importance as to admit of no argument on the subject. The maintenance of this status quo implied also the existence of the Albanian province, and from this naturally followed the effort to widen as far as possible the frontiers of an Albania having a homogeneous population of Albanian origin. As the result of long and persistent negotiations, a compromise was reached on the basis of mutual concessions. Having, preserved Prizrend, Ipek, Jakova, and Dibra for the Slavs, Russia thought it necessary to concede the annexation of Scutari to Albania. This concession was made to preserve peace, the rupture of which for the above cause would have been manifestly absurd, Scutari being a purely Albanian town and the seat of a Catholic Archbishop.
    This has been fully confirmed by reports from the Russian Vice Consul in Scutari, who has adduced facts to show that the Montenegrins play an essentially military role and have proved incapable of assimilating the several thousand Catholic and Mussulman Albanians who have been established in Montenegro for thirty-five years. Consequently, the annexation of a portion of the Sanjak of Scutari would only weaken Montenegro considerably, as it would swell the scanty Montenegrin population with an influx of 100,000 men, foreigners to them in religion, blood, and language, and Montenegro would thus be threatened with the fate of becoming a Montenegrin Albania.
    Our representative further believes that the union of a considerable number of Roman Catholics with Montenegro might furnish an opportunity for the strengthening of foreign ties, and thus render easier the penetration of foreign influences.
    King Nicholas broke the undertaking into which he had entered to warn Russia in the event of war and to obtain her consent. Nevertheless the Emperor magnanimously came to the aid of Montenegro by supplementing the resources of her population.
    When the question of Scutari was settled a friendly notification was sent to King Nicholas, and he was at the same time warned of the great responsibility which he would assume if he continued his resistance. He was afterward advised to desist from all recrimination and the pursuit of his personal aims, which would condemn his people to useless massacre.
    Those representations to King Nicholas have proved to be without effect. It has become clear that he bases his calculations on embroiling Russia and the great powers in a European war.
    The Russian Government could not, therefore, oppose the taking of measures which had become necessary since the refusal of King Nicholas to submit to the decree of the powers. The Imperial Government cannot abandon the hope that Montenegro will cease her obstinate efforts and will consider it sufficient for her amour propre to submit to the will of Europe, supported by an imposing display of naval force.
    In this case Europe will be able to find means of alleviating the lot of the Montenegrin people who have been overwhelmed by the excessive sacrifices demanded by the siege of Scutari.
    The Imperial Government cannot lose sight of its primal responsibility to the Russian people, a responsibility which involves the duty that not a drop of Russian blood shall be shed unless the interests of the fatherland demand it.
    Russia, a great Slav and orthodox power has never been sparing of help and sacrifice on behalf of her brothers, but on the latter in their turn is imposed the duty which our press has not always been urgent in recalling to them, of respecting the counsels which Russia cannot be accused of giving to excess and of remembering that if we are proud of their successes these would not have been achieved without Russia, which gave them life and which continues to be necessary to them in their joy as in their grief. Especially is this necessary for the purpose of mutual reconciliation, without which these peoples cannot acquire power or vigor. These relations of Russia toward the Slav peoples exclude any idea of hostility toward other States and nations. Racial differences do not lead inevitably to racial antagonism.
    It is difficult to admit that the cause of peace would gain by the clash of races. Conscious of her right and of her strength, Russia has no need to pass from uneasiness to threats, which do not express the strength of a people.