Chapter 127： Question of Albania (2 in 1

On May 2, the Ottoman diplomatic representative came to London again.

It was still led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kahevich, who, as a high-level member of the Freedom and Concord Party, escaped the liquidation of the Al-Shabaab, which is incredible.

In fact, it is completely feasible to think carefully. He was able to escape this coup in the Ottoman Empire. It was completely because no one was willing to take over and was destined to humiliate the peace talks. In order to let this Kahevich continue to lead the team, he used it as a waste. Let him continue to come. And this time they have done a good job of agreeing to the Balkan Alliance's peace conditions.

This time, the Balkan Alliance countries did not improve the conditions of the Ottoman Empire. It was not a conscience discovery, but what they could get. The first peace talks showed that the Ottomans could not get it in Istanbul, the best place in Europe. If the compensation is paid, Osman’s finances It is not allowed, and the European powers will not agree to it, so they can only continue to mention the previous conditions.

At the negotiation venue provided by the British government, the Balkan Allied countries and the Ottoman diplomatic teams of the warring parties were all seated. With the attention of the representatives of the European powers, the negotiations finally began.

This time it was still the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Tiras Rocky who stood up and asked. "Mr. Kahevich, I don't know how the Ottoman government is considering our conditions this time?"

Kahevich has long received conditions from the Balkan countries. According to the situation, the current conditions are fairly good, but he still wants to test it.

"We think this condition can be negotiated."

Foreign Minister Dilas Roche asked mockingly with a smile on his face. "What are you discussing? Are you surrendering Constantinople?"

Hearing the mocking words of the Bulgarian foreign minister, the representatives of the Balkan countries couldn't help laughing. They have long known the awkward position of the Ottoman foreign minister in his government through intelligence. It is estimated that he will not know where he will be after the diplomatic negotiations, so the Balkan countries are not welcome at all.

Facing the ridicule of the representatives of the Balkan countries, Kahevich felt that his old face was a bit unbearable, but he still knew his responsibility, and faced the mocking question of the Bulgarian foreign minister, he answered. "We have no possibility of giving up the capital. This is something that 28 million Ottomans would not agree to."

Hearing Kahevich's answer, Greek Foreign Minister Constantine felt that he needed to correct his mistake. "Mr. Kahevich, I want to correct your mistake. Now you don't have 28 million people, only 21 million people. This is our bottom line, and you should thank us for not increasing the price."

Kahevich heard the words of the Greek Foreign Minister Constantine and knew from his years of diplomatic experience that this was a trap. If he does not deny it, then the attitude of the Ottoman Empire has recognized the conditions of the Balkan countries. Now he intends to maintain the final dignity for the Ottoman Empire. "Now that our negotiations have not been completed, and the division of regions such as Macedonia and Thrace has not yet ended, is Foreign Minister Constantine's words too anxious?"

Constantine, the Greek Foreign Minister, who was asked by Kahevich, immediately retorted. "Don't you dare to regret it?"

The host of this negotiation, the British Foreign Secretary Edward Gray, saw that the negotiation had only begun and was so noisy, so he had to come forward to appease both sides. He said loudly to the negotiators. "Gentlemen, deputies."

By the words of the British Foreign Secretary Edward Gray, the several foreign ministers who interrupted the negotiations were quiet, and they all respected the British Foreign Secretary. This is a manifestation of the United Kingdom as the largest power in Europe. Edward Gray was satisfied after seeing his own words or calming them down, and he continued. "Dear negotiators, everyone is here to negotiate to bring peace to the Balkan people. Governments of all countries are looking forward to the results you bring back. I hope that you can come up with the results of the negotiations as soon as possible and bring peace back to that place. land."

After the British Foreign Secretary Edward Gray finished speaking, the negotiations proceeded very quickly. Both sides understood the situation on the opposite side, and there was not much disagreement on the ceded territory, so the progress was quickly settled in just one week. One week is already quite fast for the war and peace talks. After all, it involves territorial change. Whether people move on the changed territory, those who need to move, whether the army prisoners and weapons and equipment will be returned, etc. all need to be negotiated one by one.

The warring Balkan League and Ottoman representatives have almost negotiated the terms of the peace talks, and the British Foreign Secretary Edward Gray asked both sides. "Are you all satisfied with the conditions?"

At this time, a discordant voice came over. "I disagree."

All the representatives here looked around, and it was Bodeelter, the observer representative of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Russian observer representative Boris felt that he needed to stand up and defend the Balkan brother. "Mr. Bodeelter, why don't you say that you have objections to this treaty earlier? Now that you have finished talking about it. And this is the negotiation between the Balkan countries and the Ottomans, and your Austro-Hungarian Empire has too much control."

After being bombarded by the Russian representative Boris, the Austrian-Hungarian representative Bodeel was not angry, but spoke slowly. "I disagree that this treaty does not protect the Albanian people."

It turns out that Bodeel’s intention is the Albanian region, and the Albanians are descended from the ancient residents of the Balkans, the Ilyans.

In 167 BC, Albania was occupied by Rome. In the following centuries, this country was repeatedly invaded. After the 9th century AD, they were ruled by the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Serbia, and the Republic of Venice. An independent feudal duchy was established in 1190, the Turkish Ottoman Empire military invaded Albania in 1385, it was invaded by Turkey in 1415, and it was ruled by Turkey for nearly 500 years.

By the 18th century, two ethnic groups gradually formed around the Albanian settlements and formed different written languages. The Tuscans living in the southern part of the Shikun River were mainly engaged in agriculture. Due to the better geographical and transportation conditions, they were economical. The culture is more developed.

Last year, on November 28, 1912, Albania declared its independence, but none of the Balkans recognized its independent status. Both Serbia and Greece want to divide it up. Among them, Serbia gets most of it, so that she can get the port she dreams of, and get rid of the problem that domestic exports need to go through Austria-Hungary. This is also the area that Seville should have acquired in the previous Balkan League, while Greece has acquired the northern Epirus area and the Saranda area of ​​Albania. Now the attitude of Austria-Hungary has made Serbia's hope of obtaining its own port bewildered.

Faced with such a situation, Serbian negotiator Foreign Minister Milanovic could not sit still, and immediately stood up and retorted. "Albania was liberated from the arduous battle between Seville and the Greek armies. It is impossible for us to give up where we have fought."

Seville’s words on behalf of Foreign Minister Milanović were endorsed by Greek Foreign Minister Constantine who has the same territorial needs in Albania.

"It is impossible for us to give up Albania just because of your words."

Facing the indignation of the foreign ministers of the two countries, Bodeel, the representative of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, stared at the representative of Russia, Boris, and replied indifferently to them. "What is your slogan for starting the war?"

He asked and answered questions and continued. "I remember to liberate the people of all ethnic groups who were oppressed by the Ottomans. Now that Albania is independent, there is no Ottoman to oppress them, so why divide up the territory of an independent country."

Seeing the actions of the representatives of Austria and Hungary, the representative of Russia, Boris, knew that they had to support them at this time. He thought about it. "Albania, which we call him a country for the time being, has not been recognized by the international community. We can't recognize him as a country just because a small group of people declares independence. If this happens, the society will be completely messed up."

Hearing the Russian representative backing up his speech, Sevilla Foreign Minister Milanovic also agreed to preach. "Mr. Boris is right. We cannot recognize him as a country just because a small number of ambitious people declare independence."

Seeing that the representative of Austria-Hungary was questioned by Russia, Serbia and Greece, the representative of another country stood up and said. "But our country and the Austro-Hungarian Empire recognize Albania's independent status."

Everyone looked at it, and it turned out that it was the Italian representative Vittorio supporting the Austro-Hungarian representative's speech. Seeing that the Italian representative supported the views of Austria-Hungary, the Russian representative Boris knew that the Balkan countries no longer have the right to speak on the issue of Albania. It depends on the attitude of the European powers. Needless to say, Germany behind Austria-Hungary and Italy knows how to choose. He now needs the support of allies, so he set his sights on the French representative Jean Barker. Facing the eyes of the Russian representative asking for help, the French representative felt big.

Before coming, he had been advised by the French Prime Minister Joseph Kayo that France should not be involved in the Balkan issue. If there is too strong a dispute over the Balkan issue this time, France should not be too involved in the peace. This is also related to the goals of France. They don't have much interest in the Balkans, and there is a hostile Germany next to France. The pressure on the border is already strong enough, and they don't want too much entanglement in other regions.

The French representative asked Buck to put forward his own suggestions after thinking a little bit. "I think the Albanian issue needs a special discussion, and it is a bit outdated by the Austro-Hungarian Empire now."

Seeing the hesitation of the French representative, the Russian representative turned his eyes to the host British Foreign Secretary Edward Gray. Facing Russia’s help-seeking gaze, Foreign Secretary Edward Gray said. "I agree with the French representative, the Albanian issue really needs to be discussed specifically."

Seeing that Britain and France both proposed to postpone the Albania issue, the Russian representative Boris knew that the current situation was unfavorable, and could only agree with it. "Let's postpone the discussion on this issue."

The representatives of Austria-Hungary and Italy know that they are now facing the waiver, and they have agreed to postpone the talks. Anyway, they have already seen that Britain and France do not support Russia as much as in the Balkans. Obviously, they hope that Russia will invest its experience in Poland and Germany and Austria. Hungarian border.

Afterwards, the Balkan countries and Ottoman had no intention of negotiating, and the original conditions were almost discussed. Now the Balkan countries are more concerned with how Albania should deal with it. After all, it is a piece of land of nearly 40,000 square kilometers, which is obviously better than arguing with Ottoman.

The British Foreign Secretary Edward Gray, who presided over the negotiations, saw this situation and spoke. "Everyone is running out of energy, or let's continue talking another day."

His words made all the deliberate representatives nodded in agreement, so today's negotiations ended without a problem. When going out, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Milanovic approached the Greek Foreign Minister Constantine to plan to go out together. The Russian representative Boris found the French representative Jean Buck, and seemed to plan to go out together. Seeing this, the other negotiators all went out separately, ready to digest today's news. Seeing that everyone was almost gone, the representatives of Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy also planned to go back to discuss it.

Outside the door, Russian representative Boris got into the carriage of French representative Jean Barker. After the coachman drove slowly on the road in a carriage, the Russian representative Boris began to inquire. "Mr. Barker This time the Albanian issue, why can't our three countries form a joint force? Now this situation makes us very passive."

After hearing what Boris said, the French representative asked Buck to speak slowly. "Mr. Boris, you need to know that we are in an alliance with your Russia, but we hope that the three countries will work together to fight against the Allies, not for your country to expand in the Balkans. Our loan is also for this purpose. If there are no prerequisites, then we The alliance will be meaningless."

After hearing that the French asked Buckmin to persuade him, which was actually a warning, Boris knew this was a manifestation of France's dissatisfaction with Russia's expansion in the Balkans. Now he knows that France will not have much support for the Russians this time, although hope is slim, he can only put hope on the British.

In the evening, Boris visited the British Foreign Secretary Edward Gray and wanted to get support from him. Although the British also supported Greece behind their backs, they were obviously unwilling to get involved too much in the face of the Albanian issue.

Without the support of the two allies, Boris knew that this Albanian issue could only be based on the opinions of Austria-Hungary and Italy. At best, I can only fight for them to divide the territory, and Serbia's eager port is helpless.

Sure enough, in the subsequent negotiations, Russia and Austria-Hungary and Italy were the main ones, and the two sides repeatedly negotiated on the Albania issue. In the end, according to the opinions of Austria-Hungary and Italy, Albania was taken out and independent, and Germany sent a prince to be its king. Russian representative Boris won for Seville to transfer Albania's Kosovo to Serbia, and Greece gets the North Epirus region. This makes both countries very dissatisfied, and a new crisis is brewing.

Two chapters in one, time is inseparable, everyone will watch it.