BALKAN TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 132, 27 February 1908, Page 7

BALKAN TROUBLE.

BRITISH POLICY;

t TO MAINTAIN Th'E CONCERT. TEMPERATE SPEECH BY FOREIGN . SECRETARY. , Df XBI.EOIIArH—IUES3 ASSOCIATION—COrTttIQUI. . (Rcc. Feb. 27, 0.5 a.m.) London, February 26. During a debate in tho Houso of Commons on. the stato of affairs in Macedonia, Earl Percy, Conservative, formerly Under-Secre-tary for-iForeign 'Affairs, declared that ho was in nowiso satisfied that the Murzsteg programme .(which was tho outcome of a conference between tho Tsar and tho Emporor Francis Joseph of Austria, held at Murziteg) had failed.

•' Sir Edwaril Grey,/ Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that as far as railways favoured trade, they:;had . Britain's goodwill. _Ho trusted that Austria's scheme for a railway to Xovibazar would not load to difficulties within tho Concert of tho Powers. • Britain was prepared to relinquish her gondanhorio scheme.if -a hotter were suggested! Ho was cortain that, if tho Concert were determined, the question could bo settled by' a Turkish' Governor, of a capacity and ciiaracter known to tho Powers, and irre-: movable for a term of years.

Such-a''Governor should bo given a free hand to secure eftcctivo administration. If the appointment wero accompanied by .a reduction ■ of. Turkish troops, a .collcctive guarantee should bo given that Turkey's, dominions. would not bo interfered with frpm outside.; The danger was not that tho'Powers wero likely to quarrel, but that the Concert would perish for lack of vitality and failure to stop a condition of .affairs in Macedonia which, if neglcctod, might precipitate a catastrophe. This was proventible by tho union and determination of tho Concert, which the British Government would' continue to do its utmost to secure. - . -,

METTERNICH ON THE EALKANS. (Rcc. Fob. 26, 11.1 p.m.) London, February 26: Speaking as a guest of tho London Chamber . of: Commerce, ; Count Motternich said that Germany's policy ■' and efforts •were directed towards united action of tho Powers to seenro useful reforms, and to stop, the massacres in Macedonia. .' It ,was an 'utter fabrication,to- that Germany ,was ; instigating Austria-Hungary to build tho Novibazar railway. Austria was tho best judge of her; own economic interest.