On July 4, 1897, the London negotiations commenced as scheduled. Delegations from every country gathered in London, setting off a new round of political and diplomatic maneuvering!
As Bulgaria's prime minister, Konstantin naturally became the head of the Balkan League delegation.
On the first day of negotiations, the gap between the conditions offered by both sides was simply too vast, and the talks quickly ground to a halt!
On behalf of the Balkan League, Konstantin presented the Ottoman Empire with the following demands:
1. The Ottoman Empire was to relinquish all its European territories, including Constantinople;
2. It was to withdraw its forces from Greece immediately;
3. It was to take responsibility for its centuries-long enslavement of the Balkan peoples—specifically, by issuing a public apology and compensating the various peoples for their economic losses to the total of 200 million pounds;
4. It was to assume full responsibility for the Balkan Wars and pay the Balkan League nations 30 million pounds in war reparations: 15 million pounds to Bulgaria, 13 million pounds to Greece, and 2 million pounds to Montenegro;
5. It was to recognize the independence of Bulgaria and Montenegro;
6. It was to cede Crete to Greece;
The Ottoman Empire stated that, apart from recognizing the independence of Bulgaria and Montenegro under the fifth clause, it could not accept any of the other terms!
Halil Pasha, the Ottoman foreign minister, explicitly rejected the demands for reparations and territorial concessions in Clauses 1, 3, and 4, though he agreed to withdraw from Greece under certain conditions.
He also put forward the Ottoman Empire's own demands:
1. Bulgaria and Montenegro were to immediately withdraw from Ottoman territory and restore the prewar borders;
2. The Balkan League was to compensate the Ottoman Empire for 35 million pounds in war losses;