was now for the Turks themselves to take proper measures for quelling any riots that might arise, but to observe the prudence dictated by the paramount necessity of not outraging European public opinion, as had been done on other occasions. || I noticed that Count Lützow spoke with perfect confidence of the Russian Government as acting entirely in concert with that of Austria-Hungary for the prevention, as far as possible, of the complications which seem so threatening in the Balkan peninsula. F. R. Plunkett. Nr. 12810. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Gesandten in Belgrad. Trifft Serbien mili tärische Vorbereitungen? Foreign Office, April 4, 1902. (Telegraphic.) || My attention has been called by the Turkish Ambassador to preparations of a warlike nature which are taking place in Servia, in particular along the frontier of Turkey, where arms are being distributed and troops are collecting. || Please inform me if there is any foundation for the representations made by him. Nr. 12811 GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Gesandten in Belgrad. Foreign Office, April 4, 1902. Sir, The Turkish Ambassador came to this Office to-day and stated that he had been instructed by his Government to call my special attention to the warlike preparations which they hear are being made in Servia, particularly along the Turkish frontier, where troops are collecting and arms are being distributed for no apparent reason. His Excellency said that the Turkish Government are considerably disturbed by these proceedings, and hope that His Majesty's Government will take such steps as they consider advisable to check the apparently bellicose tendencies of the Servians. || I have telegraphed the substance of Anthopoulo Pasha's communication to His Majesty's Minister at Belgrade, and I have asked him what foundation there is for these representations. Lansdowne. Nr. 12812. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Gesandte in Serbien an den Minister des Ausw. Antwort auf 12810. Sophia, April 5, 1902. (April 5.) (Telegraphic.) || Your Lordship's telegram of yesterday. || No concentration of troops has as yet taken place on Turkish frontier; a rumour has, however, been current to the effect that a single battalion is about to be sent to Vranya. || With reference to the rumours relative to arms being distributed, it appears that the third ban of the Servian army are always permitted to have arms in their possession; now, however, the second ban has received arms, an unusual circumstance against which the Turkish Minister has made representations, in answer to which he informs me that satisfactory assurances have reached him. He has also had to protest against the sale of arms in frontier villages, which, being of an obsolete pattern, were offered at 5 fr. each. || In the opinion of the Turkish Minister the attitude of the Servian Government has been friendly, but he does not consider that sufficiently active measures have been taken to prevent insurgents from Macedonia passing through Servia. || In consequence of difficulties having arisen between Albanians and Turks, the position occupied by the Servian population in Old Servia is represented to me as being more favourable at the present time by comparison with recent years. Nr. 12813. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Botschafter in Petersburg an den Minister des Ausw. Besuch des bulgarischen Ministers des Ausw. in Petersburg. Anschauung Lamsdorffs. St. Petersburgh, April 2, 1902. (April 8.) (Extract.) || I have the honour to report the arrival in this capital of the Bulgarian Prime Minister, M. Daneff, who has been received in audience by the Emperor, and had an interview with Count Lamsdorff. There is a general impression that the Bulgarian Minister's visit to this Court is chiefly connected with the financial arrangements of that State, but no doubt advantage has also been taken of it by Count Lamsdorff to impress strongly on M. Daneff the serious responsibility which the Bulgarian Government would incur by any relaxation of its efforts to control and check the agitation of the Macedonian Committees. || Count Lamsdorff, at my last interview with him last week, adhered to his opinion, that the danger of serious disturbances in that quarter was not at present greater than it had been at the corresponding season of past years, perhaps even not so great. Nr. 12814. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Botschafter in Konstantinopel. Beschwerden des türkischen Botschafters über die Haltung Bulgariens; er fordert Vorstellungen in Sofia. Foreign Office, April 9, 1902. Sir, The Turkish Ambassador spoke to me to-day with great earnestness upon the subject of the disorders prevailing in Bulgaria, and read me a despatch of which the following is a summary: || In spite of the assurances of Bulgaria, given in consequence of the steps taken by the Great Powers, numerous bands of brigands have been formed in that country, and no measures are taken by the Government of the Principality to prevent their formation. Bulgarian officers, also with the full knowledge of the authorities, excite the population to attack the European provinces of Turkey. || Colonel Yankoff, for instance, who goes about making revolutionary speeches in various towns of the Principality, has held two meetings on two successive evenings in the Hall of the Committee at Widdin, when he urged the inhabitants to prepare for an attack on the Turkish provinces, to organize rifle shooting Societies, and to be instructed in military exercices in the presence of other officers. He has also distributed printed notices to the inhabitants of other towns, announcing his approaching arrival. || Notwithstanding these proceedings, the Ottoman Government, who are obliged to keep a large force to maintain public order and security, continue to recommend the inhabitants of their provinces to be patient and calm, in spite of the outrages which they suffer at the hands of the Bulgarian brigands. || Although the intimidation practised by the Bulgarian Committees is intended to corrupt a large number of peaceful and loyal persons, the Imperial Government, in a spirit of mercy and in accordance with the recommendations of the Powers, act with the greatest moderation, and do not resort to all the methods which the law prescribes. But this moderation, and the measures which the Turkish Government have taken can be of no avail so long as Bulgaria continues to persist in her present attitude. || On the other hand, the Imperial Government will suffer prejudice on account of the military measures which they are obliged to take and the pecuniary sacrifices which they are incurring, and it is certain that a continuation of this state of things will produce a growth of revolutionary ideas among the population. || In these circumstances, it is obvious that the Bulgarian Government is, like all regular Governments, in duty bound to carry out their assurances, not verbally and in part, but effectively and in their entirety. || Otherwise, the Imperial Government should have a free hand to take proper measures to safeguard their rights, which are suffering great injury from the proceedings of the Revolutionary Committees and the acts of the bands which they are sending into the Turkish provinces. His Excellency also informed me that the Turkish Minister at Bucharest had informed the Turkish Government that the Roumanian Government was extremely uneasy with regard to the progress of the Bulgarian agitation. They were under the impression that the agitators were likely to commit the worst outrages in order to provoke violent measures of repression, which would create a reaction in their favour. I Similar intelligence had been received by the Turkish Government from their Commissioners at Sophia and Monastir. || The Bulgarian Committees were collecting funds, distributing arms, and in some cases assassinating those who refused to join them. A small band of Bulgarian brigands had actually crossed the frontier near Adrianople, had seized three Mussulmans and a child, and had cut them to pieces in the most barbarous manner, afterwards making good their escape. A leading part was taken by a notorious character known as Jovan, of Scopia. There was no pretext that these crimes were committed for the sake of vengeance or robbery, and it was evident that they were political in their complexion. || His Excellency hoped that His Majesty's Government would make representations to the Bulgarian Government in order to induce them to put a stop to this dangerous state of things. He explained that similar representations had been made to the other Powers. || I replied that we should be quite ready to consider, in consultation with other Governments, whether there was any use in making representations such as he had suggested. I expressed my fear that it might be beyond the power of the Bulgarian Government to control the bands of whose lawlessness the complaint was made. || His Excellency replied that the Bulgarian Government might, at any rate, prevent officers in their own service from making incendiary speeches such as those which had been delivered by Colonel Yankoff, as described in the despatch which he had read to me. Lansdowne. -- Nr. 12815. TÜRKEI. Der Botschafter in London an den englischen Minister des Ausw. Beschwerden über die bulgarischen Banden. England soll in Sofia Vorstellungen erheben. (Received April 12.) L'ambassadeur de Turquie présente ses compliments au Marquis de Lansdowne, et a l'honneur de porter à la connaissance de sa Seigneurie les renseignements suivants, qu'il vient de recevoir de son Gouvernement: Le Comité Bulgare a recruté quarante personnes moyennant un salaire de 2 fr. par jour, et après les avoir coiffés de Calpaks blancs, les a renvoyés pour franchir la ligne de démarcation du côté de Keustendil. Deux cents Bulgares se sont aussi rendus du côté de Doubnitza pour pénétrer de là dans les villages du district de Perlépé. En outre, 600 fusils du système Carnicaset, 18 caisses de cartouches provenant du dépôt d'armes de Keustendil, ont été remis à Ivankoff Frères pour être introduits dans la province voisine de l'Empire sous la direction du susdit Comité. || Sept brigands faisant partie de cette bande ont dernièrement pénétré dans le village d'Odikeuy, district de Perlépé, et se sont retranchés dans une tour. Informées de ce fait, les autorités Impériales envoyèrent sur les lieux un détachement composé de soldats et de gendarmes, sous les ordres d'un officier, et invitèrent, au nom de la loi, les brigands à se rendre. Ceux-ci ayant répondu par des coups de feu, un combat s'en suivit entre les assiégés et les assiégeants, qui réussirent le lendemain matin à se rendre maîtres de la situation; comme ils ont montré une résistance acharnée, le résultat en a été que tous les brigands sont tombés morts. Ils étaient armés de fusils Gras. On a en outre découvert sur eux des papiers séditieux écrits en langue Bulgare. || Tout en faisant part à sa Seigneurie de ce qui précède, Anthopoulus Pacha croit devoir attirer tout particulièrement son attention sur le fait que les armes en question ont été distribuées par le dépôt d'armes du Gouvernement Bulgare, et il espère qu'elle voudra bien intervenir auprès du Gouvernement Bulgare, afin qu'un terme soit mis à ces agissements, qui compromettent la Principauté. Ambassade Impériale de Turquie, Londres, le 11 Avril, 1902. Nr. 12816. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an die Vertreter bei den Großmächten und an den Gesandten in Sofia. Sie sollen sich mit ihren Kollegen über Vorstellungen in Sofia verständigen. Foreign Office, April 12, 1902. (Telegraphic.) || On more than one occasion the Turkish Government has called our attention to the danger arising from the agitation, which |