BALKAN BLOODSHED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 77, 24 December 1907, Page 7

BALKAN BLOODSHED.

GREEKS BLAMED. ACTIVITY OF THE "BANDS. , ' ox rEi.EGitArn-press association—cnrritiGin. Vienna, December 22. An official Red Bopk published in Vienna reveals the existence of a pitiablo state of unrest and bloodshed in Macedonia, arising out of the activity of various bands. The Greeks are held to be chiefly responsible for the unsettled condition of affairs. The A ustro-Russian .communique, issued in September, dealing with Balkan reforms, in effect postpones any delimitation of administrative districts until peace shall have been restored. According to "The Times," tho A ustro-Russiaii instructions dcclaro that "tho complete disappearance of ths bauds for a long period of time is a necessary condition of any delimitation whatsoever." Secondly, they declare that Austria-Hungary and Russia never contemplated any' partition of Macedonia into racial spheres. Thirdly, that'whenever and however the delimitation may bq carried out, no account whatever will be taken of gains or losses arising out. of the struggles of rival races, and that tho principal of status quo ante will be applied. It is understood that tlio communique is issued with the full knowledge anil sympathy of Great Britain and of King Bilwnyd personally, who visited Gortnany and Austria a few months ago. Vienna and St. Petersburg newspapers agree in attributing the principal blame to the Greeks', and declare that high ecclesiastical dignitaries of the Greek Church nid and abet the bands. The Porto accused the Metropolitan of Drama of complicity in tho hands' murder campaign, and, nt the Patriarchate's suggestion, the Metronolitan retired to the Monastery , of Mount Athos. This temporary effacement, it was thought, would satisfy the. Porte, who would not proceed further in this and, in other cases. "From Rome points of view," nays "The Times." "it is regrettable that these high ecclesiastical dignitaries will not be able to meet publicly tho charges which have been brought against them, but it is quite easy to . understand that the Porte shrinks from the serious conflict which such an extreme measure ('i.e., prosecution) would utmost inevitably entail , v ith the Church, which is not only itself one of the .strongest institutions in Turkey, but has powerful friends to whom it could appeal for help to resist what it would represent;as 'persecution.'"