taken vigorous measures for the reorganization of the gendarmerie. He had selected a number of experienced officers and men, who had been sent to Macedonia to give effect to these reforms, and a certain number of Christians had been appointed to the force. The Commission under Hussein Hilmi Pasha was showing great energy, several hundred malefactors had been arrested and were about to be tried by a special Tribunal, and the result of each day's work was reported to him by telegraph. As soon as the reorganization was more advanced, he proposed to appoint a foreign Inspector to report on the work done. || Arrangements had been made for the regular payment of officials, so that altogether he had reason to think that he was doing all he could to meet the requirements of the situation. The task was more difficult, perhaps, than I imagined, although he did not think the fanatism of the Mussulman inhabitants was a stumbling-block to ultimate success, the feelings and prejudices of his Moslem subjects had to be counted with, and it was dangerous to arouse public animosity without having the means to cope with it by superior force. Old Servia and Albania were dangerous centres of disorders, and measures of reform could only be introduced with the aid of armed force. A display of weakness would be fatal to the authority of the central Government. His Majesty hoped that the steps he was now taking would suffice to redress the legitimate grievances of the inhabitants, but if the revolutionary Committees were encouraged from outside to create disturbances it would be the duty of the military to maintain order. His Majesty counted on His Majesty's Government supporting his efforts to improve the general situation of the country, and he trusted that he would not be prohibited from the exercise of such authority as was necessary to maintain order and protect himself against the attack and intrigues of those who were the pronounced enemies of Turkey and of tranquillity in the Balkan Peninsula. || Without entering into details as to the efforts made by His Majesty to improve the system of Administration, I told His Majesty that unless the reforms were of a practical and effective character I was afraid the result would be short-lived, and that, although the dangers threatening His Majesty next spring might possibly be staved off for the moment, they would recur again at no distant date. The measures taken by His Majesty were, no doubt, salutary as far as they went, but there was a marked difference between them and those of which His Majesty intimate his acceptance on the 18th ultimo. If I urged His Majesty not to stop at half-measures, but to take the iniative in introducing serious reforms, I was animated by the desire of seeing the general situation of the Roumelian Provinces so improved that the danger of a

political convulsion imperilling the vital interests of Turkey, as well as the peace of Europe, would be removed.

Nr. 12863. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Gesandte in Sofia an

den Minister des Ausw. Unterredung mit dem Fürsten.

Sophia, January 22, 1903. (February 2.)

My Lord, In conversation with me on the 14th instant Ali Ferruh Bey, the Ottoman Commissioner, knowing that I should see Prince Ferdinand the next day, begged me to speak to His Royal Highness about the Macedonian refugees, and to urge him to allow them to be sent back to their homes. He had broached the subject the evening before with His Royal Highness, but had not been able to discuss it thoroughly. || After hearing what he had to say on the subject the repatriation of these people apparel to me so desirable, and withal so feasible, that I decided to speak to Prince Ferdinand about it; and I did so, not only at an audience which His Royal Highness granted me on the morning of the 15th, but also at dinner at the Palace the same evening (having seen Ali Ferruh Bey again in the meantime). || Ali Ferruh Bay declared, and I told Prince Ferdinand, that many of the refugees wanted to go back, and had deputed some of their number to him to ask to be sent; that they were being kept here through untoward influences, which were making the most of their stories of ill-treatment, and wanted to keep the wound open, and which, when he had nearly come to terms with M. Daneff about the repatriation, had prevented it from being done; and that what he proposed was this, the refugees to be sent back in batches, those who wished to go being taken first, accompanied to the frontier by Bulgarian and Turkish officials, and to be met there by high Ottoman functionaries and a sufficient escort, and taken to their homes; after a few days ten or twelve of them to return to Bulgaria and tell their companions how they had been treated, so as to induce a second batch to go back. If it was found that their houses had been looted, compensation would be given; and he pledged his word that these people might go back to their homes without fear of molestation. || Prince Ferdinand said he hoped it would be possible to arrange for the return of the refugees, who were a burden to the country, and a possible source of trouble. But he had to consider opinion, and on that account, and also upon genuinely humanitarian grounds, he suggested a Mixed Commission to accompany them to their homes. I pointed out that the

Turkish Government could not be expected to entertain that suggestion; and I said I did not think any harm could happen, at any rate for some. time to come, to people who were taken back to their homes in the solemn and public manner proposed by Ali Ferruh Bey. The Prince, who appeared particularly struck with the suggestion that they should go in batches, and that some of them should return to report the way in which they were received, said he would try to get it done, but not quite immediately; it was, of course, a matter on which he must speak to his Minister. F. Elliot.

Nr. 12864. GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Der Botschafter in Wien an den Minister des Ausw. Unterredung mit Goluchowski.

Vienna, January 29, 1903. (February 2.)

My Lord, I called this afternoon on Count Goluchowski and inquired whether he had any later news from the Balkans than that which is reported in the newspapers. || His Excellency replied that for the last couple of weeks there seemed to have been fewer fresh outrages or complications amongst the Macedonian population, and he hoped that the knowledge that Austria-Hungary and Russia were working out together a scheme of practical reforms to press upon the Porte would have a quieting effect for some time. This scheme, in its broad lines, had been already settled between Vienna and St. Petersburgh, but there were still some details to be settled which were being elaborated as rapidly as possible at Constantinople between Baron Calice and M. Zinovieff, and must then be examined by their two Governments. || I said, that as we were already within two months of the melting of the snows in the Balkans, I trusted the two Ambassadors would hurry up their work. || Count Goluchowski agreed as to the pressing necessity for haste, but said that it was also highly important that the scheme should be so far completed before presentation to the other Signatory Governments that these latter could accede without further delay, in order that it might be pressed upon the Sultan as soon as possible. || After some further remarks on the dangers anticipated for the spring, his Excellency said that he hoped to be now very soon in the position to communicate to the various Signatory Governments the complete scheme, and he trusted that your Lordship would see that the two Governments were acting in the general interest of peace, and were not seeking an opportunity to push their own interests at the expense of those of others. || I assured his Ex

cellency that His Majesty's Government felt no jealousy whatever in this matter, and reminded him of the friendly language your Lordship had used in this respect to Count Deym on the 6th instant (recorded in your Lordship's despatch to me of that date). F. R. Plunkett.

Nr. 12865. RUMÄNIEN.

Der Minister des Ausw. an den Botschafter in London. Interessen Rumäniens in Mazedonien.

Bucarest, le 17 Janvier, 1903.

M. le Ministre, || Le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté le Roi de Roumanie, confiant dans les efforts des Grandes Puissances en vue d'assurer le statu quo dans la Péninsule Balcanique, et animé du plus vif désir de contribuer au maintien de la paix, si nécessaire au développement du Royaume, s'est abstenu de toute intervention capable d'augmenter les causes actuelles de complications. || Ni l'excitation des esprits, ni les agitations répétées dans les Balkans, ne lui ont fait abondonner l'attitude calme et réservée qu'il s'est imposée vis-à-vis des affaires de Macédoine. Notre politique n'a pas cessé un seul instant de s'inspirer des principes permanents qui l'ont toujours guidé et qui ont fait considérer le Royaume comme un représentant des grands intérêts pacifiques dans l'Orient de l'Europe. C'est uniquement dans ce sens que s'est constamment manifestée notre action. || Mais notre attitude correcte ne saurait infirmer ni les intérêts qui se rattachent pour nous aux événements pouvant surgir dans la Péninsule Balcanique, ni l'attention sérieuse que nous devons leur accorder. || En particulier les affaires de Macédoine font l'objet de nos préoccupations incessantes, car elles intéressent l'avenir d'une nombreuse population de race Roumaine et l'équilibre politique dans la Péninsule. || Je n'ai pas besoin d'insister ni de développer les raisons pour lesquelles rien de ce qui touche à cet équilibre ne saurait laisser la Roumanie indifférente. || D'autre part, les liens qui nous unissent aux Roumains de Macédoine ne nous permettent pas de nous désintéresser de leur sort. Le désir de l'Europe de voir améliorer la situation des populations de la Turquie ne se réduit certainement pas aux seules relations entre Musulmans et Chrétiens, mais s'étend aussi aux rapports d'égalité qui doivent exister entre les différentes nationalités Chrétiennes. C'est sous ce point de vue que nous avons toujours envisagé nos obligations envers les populations Roumaines, pour la culture desquelles nous avons déjà fait tant de sacrifices pécuniaires. || La cause que nous soutenons est si juste qu'il était indiqué de ne pas la troubler par des manifestations pouvant compliquer davantage une situation déjà si

délicate. La prudence patiente du royaume et son souci constant à mettre d'accord ses intérêts propres avec ceux de la paix Européenne ont certainement été appréciés par le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Britannique. || Aussi ne fera-t-il pas des difficultés à reconnaître le devoir qui s'imposait à nous de soumettre à son attention sympathique et bienveillante la question que je viens d'exposer et voudra-t-il bien admettre le droit pour la population Roumaine de Turquie d'être traitée sur le pied d'une parfaite égalité avec toutes les autres populations. || Après avoir fait valoir les raisons qui précèdent dans vos conversations avec son Excellence M. le Marquis de Lansdowne, vous voudrez bien lui donner lecture de la présente dépêche et, si elle vous le demande, lui en laisser copie.

J. T. G. Bratiano.

Nr. 12866. BULGARIEN. - Interpellationen in der Sobranje über die mazedonische Angelegenheit.

5. Februar, 1903.

M. Strashimiroff, dissident Democrat, asked the Prime Minister whether he considered the proceeding of the Superior Macedonian Committee in issuing a Circular inviting all Macedonians in Bulgaria to take part in the impending insurrection to be within the limits of legality. || M. Daneff (Prime Minister): The proceeding has attracted the attention of the Government. I shall, in a few days, have an opportunity, in answering M. Takoff's interpellation, of communicating to the House the measures we propose to take against the illegal action of the Macedonian Committee. (His Excellency was evidently unaware that M. Takeff's interpellation was the next order.) || M. Takeff, Karavelist Democrat, put the following questions: 1. Is the Minister aware that a portion of our brethren beyond the Rilo Mountain have risen in arms to obtain de facto those rights, human and civil, which were de jure secured to them by Article XXIII of the Treaty of Berlin? || 2. Is the Minister aware that this rising has been provoked by the indescribable outrages against life, honour, and property of various Dere Beys, and instruments of the authorities? || 3. If all this is known to the Minister, what steps has he taken for the alleviation of the fate of these our brethren? || 4. Does not the Minister think that the time has come for the Government to urge upon the Great Powers, signatories of the Treaty of Berlin, the application of Article XXIII? 5. Is it true that the Government has resolved to close the frontier against Macedonian refugees? If so, is not this measure not only inhuman, but contrary to the principles of international law, which opens