l honestly support you. We no longer
desire a Great Bulgaria. Such an idea we now look on as a mistake"
(i.e. it would block the route to Constantinople). This is the first
official proof we have of Russia's plan to construct a Balkan League
for her own use, from which it is clear Bulgaria was to derive no
benefit. Before going to Paris, Izvolsky laid yet another stick
ready to kindle the European blaze. In October 1909 he made an
agreement with Italy, whose hatred of Austria was increasing, by
which Italy and Russia "bind themselves to a mutually benevolent
attitude, the former in regard to Russia's interests in the
Dardanelles, and the latter in regard to Italy's interests in
Tripoli and the Cyrenaica." Italy, in fact, under cover of military
manoeuvres, made extensive military preparations against Austria in
1909, while hostilities over Bosnia were possible. Baron Nopcsa told
me bitterly in 1910: "We shall never again rely on Italy. She
mobilized against us last year." That his statement was true was
confirmed to me later by Mr. Wadham Peacock, who told me he had been
at that time in Verona, seen active preparations, and heard the
approaching war against Austria freely discussed by Italian
officers.

The Albanians hastened to consolidate their position by holding two
important National Congresses at Dibra and Elbasan, at which a
scheme for national education was discussed, and the formation of
Courts of Justice, road-making, and the purpose to which taxes were
to be applied. These, they insisted, were to be used for national
works. The Young Turks would give no pledge to this effect, and
foolishly tried to extort a tax to pay for the Bulgar rising of
1903. They ordered also the disarming of Albania, and sent a large
force into Kosovo vilayet for this purpose.

The Albanians, led by that very gallant chieftain, Isa Boletin,
rose, and fierce fighting ensued, which, had the Turks but known it,
was the beginning of the end. They hopelessly alienated the
Albanians, the one race whom they might have had as ally.

Another important event was the trial at Agram of a number of Serbs
and Croats accused of conspiracy with Serbia against the
Austro-Hungarian Government. Thirty-three were condemned to various
terms of imprisonment, but were released on appeal, and brought a
countercharge of libel against Dr. Fried Jung, a Journalist, for
asserting in the Neue Freie Presse that they had been subsidized by
Belgrade, and advoca