Albania as an independent State was to give the Balkan League a
cause of disunion, and to provide a _pied-a-terre_ for Austria for
future operations in the Balkans. If the "Holy Roman Empire" had
abandoned all thought of getting to the Aegean there would have been no
Albania.

The Balkan League was already very shaky when this bone of contention
was thrown among its members. Servia, Montenegro, and Greece, now
deprived of a share of their spoil, sought to obtain from Bulgaria, who
was in the position, as it were, of residuary legatee, some concessions
out of her share. Bulgaria, embittered at the time by the fact that
Roumania had taken advantage of the situation to demand a territorial
grant south of the Danube, was unwisely obstinate and would make no
concession to any of her partners. The issue had to be fought out
through a disastrous war in which Bulgaria, Servia, and Greece were bled
further of their manhood, already sadly thinned in the war with Turkey.

The Albania which was the chief of the causes of that fratricidal war
was duly constituted, and Prince William of Wied appointed Mpret or
King. At once there was trouble on all the Albanian boundaries, but
chiefly in the south, where the province of Epirus wished to be Greek
and rose in revolt against the new Albanian Government. The effect of
that revolt, which was generally successful, was that the Epirus
district seems likely to win a measure of local government or Home Rule
founded on the following chief conditions:

The country is divided into two administrative districts known
as Koritza and Argyrocastro. These will be governed by two
Prefects nominated by the Albanian Government. In all local
councils the number of elected members is to be three in excess
of the _ex officio_ members.

All existing Greek religious institutions and privileges are to
remain unaltered.

The Greek language is to be taught in the three first classes of
the popular schools, together with the Albanian language. In the
schools of purely Greek communities only the Greek language will
be taught.

The Greek language is to be recognised in matters of local
administration and the Law Courts in the two districts.

The native Epirotes are to remain armed, and are to be
incorporated in the _gendarmerie_ commanded by Dutch officers.
All other volunteers are to leave the country.

Albania is to grant a full amnesty