[Sml-list] Emperor called in the aid of the northern Russians

[Sidley S. <pie...@ox...>]

Collapse one day must have been within their knowledge and their
desire, which was to put a sick infant in the place of a sick man. As
it happens, the collapse has come
when neither of them is in a position to benefit immediately by it.
Neither is prepared for an expedition to the Balkans. But whilst not
serving the interests
of the Powers who created Albania, this new development has set the
Balkan pot seething again. A smell of blood taints the air and
general fighting may follow. Albania has provided the latest example
of how the selfish ambition of Western European Powers can inflict
woe upon the Near East. Agreed that these peoples of the Near East
are very cantankerous and very prone by nature to fly at one
another's throats, still
I maintain that if
Western Europe ceased from interference there would be a better
chance of peace in the Balkans, and if she interfered benevolently
and unselfishly
she could make the certainty of peace. If one could imagin