Twenty Years of Balkan TangleDurham, M. E. (Mary Edith)
History
Twenty Years of Balkan Tangle
Durham, M. E. (Mary Edith)
Balkan Peninsula -- Description and travel; Balkan Peninsula -- History; Eastern question (Balkan)
I arrived at Cetinje in time for dinner and appeared in my usual
corner. Mr. Shipley and Count Bollati hailed me at once saying that
they thought I was about due. Where had I been? "Ipek," said I.
The effect on the diplomatic table was even more startling than upon
Montenegro. "But the route is closed!" said every one. I assured
them I had nevertheless been through it, and Mr. Shipley said if he
had had any idea I was going to attempt such a thing he would have
telegraphed all over the place and stopped it. At the same time he
admitted, "I rather thought you were up to something," and gave me a
piece of excellent advice, which I have always followed, which was
"Never consult a British representative if you want to make a risky
journey." Really, he was quite pleased about it and crowed over the
rest of the diplomatic table, that the British could get to places
that nobody else could. I received a note next morning from the
Bulgarian diplomatic agent praying for an interview.
He had not been long in Cetinje, but later became one of the best
known Balkan politicians. For he was Monsieur Rizoff, who, as Bulgar
Minister at Berlin, played a considerable part in the Balkan
politics of the great war.
He was a Macedonian Bulgar born at Resna, a typical Bulgar in build
and cast of countenance, and a shrewd and clever intriguer. His
excitement over my journey was great and he wanted every possible
detail as to what were the Turkish forces and where they were
situated. I told him that I understood a rising was planned. And he
told me quite frankly that all was being prepared and a rising was
to break out in Macedonia so soon as the crops were harvested.
I gathered that Rizoff himself was deeply mixed in the plot, an
idea which was confirmed later on. For among the papers captured on
a Bulgar comitadgi, Doreff, was a letter signed Grasdoff, describing
his attempts to import arms through Montenegro, a plan he found
impossible owing to the opposition of the Albanians in the
territories that must be passed through. He visited Cetinje and
reports: "I have spoken with M. Rizoff. With regard to the passage
of men and munitions through Montenegro . . . even at the risk of
losing his post he is disposed to give his assistance. But owing to
the great difficulty the plan would meet in Albania we must renounce
it. M. Rizoff hopes to be transferred soon to Belgrade. M. Rizoff
having met M. Milakoff (PMilukoff) at Abbazia, has decided to
continue the preparations for the organization until public opinion
is convinced of the inutility of the (Turkish) reforms or until the
term fixed--October 1905." Rizoff, in his talk with me, seemed
hopeful of inducing European intervention.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account