MORE TROUBLE IN MACEDONIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 59, 10 March 1903, Page 2

MORE TROUBLE IN MACEDONIA.

No sooner is the war cloud which threatened the peace of the world from Venezuela dissipated, than the situation in the Balkans becomes exceedingly critical. The Macedonians are well organised, and display a determiuation to throw off the Turkish yoke. The indignities and wrongs which they have long been compelled to endure at the hands of Turkish soldiers quartered in their domain have become unbearable. Large numbers of Macedonian sympathisers in Bulgaria have pledged themselves to aid their neighbours, and the belief has become current that Russia is strongly in sympathy with the oppressed Christians. The following account of the situation was given in the New York "Sun," by a British diplomat, fully acquainted with the conditions: Was Russia's desire to impose radical reforms in the government of Macedonia upon the Sultan? There was a verbal agreement in the matter between Russia and AustriaHungary, including eventualities in the case of Turkish resistance. The full agreement has not, however, been reached with Austria, and an unexpected difficulty arose with the King of Roumania, who refused to consider the passage of Russian troops through his territory. It remains to be seen how the failure to arrange these matters will affect Russia's plans. Russia may be deterred, and even so Turkey may force a crisis. The Sultan is quite able to quell insurrection in Macedonia, and even to control Bulgaria if the great Powers do not interfere. Meantime Turkey has massed one hundred thousand troops on the Bulgarian frontier. Bulgaria has an army of forty-two thousand men, with seventy officers, prepared to move against the Turks in a week if necessary. Despatches from London state that Fleetstreet regards the Macedonian question as a serious menace to the peace of Europe. Mr .lames Bryce, Liberal member of Parlii___eut, and a former Cabinet Minister, is not considered as exaggerating when he stated that the danger of conflagration caused by Macedonian affairs is very near and very real. It is asserted in Vienna that half reforms will not satisfy the Macedonian party, which demands complete autonomy. The demands of the revolutionary party include a foreign Governor for Macedonia. While the professed object of the Russo-Aus-trian action has been to induce the leaders of the revolt in Macedonia to abandon, or at least postpone their plans for insurrection, it is declared that this pretended aim is a mere farce and an absurdity, as the two powers named are perfectly aware that the effect of their policy will be more exasperating than paliative. It is believed in London that Greece and Servia will co-operate in the movement for releasing Macedonia from Turkish dominion.