BULGARIAN AFFAIRS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1517, 5 January 1887, Page 2

BULGARIAN AFFAIRS.

(UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.) (Via Melbourne.) LONDON, December 22. The outlook in Europe is again of a very threatening character, and ominous preparations are being made for war. Tbe Turkish Government is rapidly" massing enormous numbers of troops in Macedonia. The Austro - Hungarian Government has despatched an order to America for 40,000 rifles, with special

injunctions requiring its speedy fulfil., •meat, and tbe condition fleing made,thattbe rifles shall be supplied before March. A report baa been published tnatipotmtHerbert Bismarck, during bis interview witb the Bulgarian delegates, strongly advised tbat Bulgaria should accept ?rince Nicholas of Mingrelis, Russia's nominee, as ruler, but this statement is declared to be untrue. It is probable that the deposed ruler, Prince Alexander of Bulgaria, will be re-elected, unless the Powers agree to the candidature of Prince Nicholas of Mingrelia. December 27. Considerable uneasiness continues to prevail with regard to the situation in Euiope. The relations between Count Kalnoky and Bismarck are greatly strained, the Austrian Government objecting strongly to the decision arrived at by Germany to allow Russia a free band with regard to the settlement of tbe Bulgarian question. The Austrian Government have vigorously undertaken the work of placing the fortresses on the Gallician frontier, abutting on tbe territory of Russia, in a thorough state of efficiency, and ready for immediate use. Prince Alexander of Battenberg has had an interview with the Bulgarian delegates at Cologne. The proposal to re-elect Prince Alexander to tbe sovereignty of the province was discussed at the interview,, but tbe result bas not been allowed to transpire. Hopes are now entertained tbat tbe difficulty which has arisen in connection with Bulgaria may be settled without resorting to arms. It it considered that the attitude of Germany precludes the probability of war unless the Czar should wantonly provoke it, as a belief prevails that Austria, except witb the consent of her allies, would never initiate hostilities. [Reuter.J SOFIA, January 3. The Russian Government still insists on the resignation of the Regents, and that a temporary Government shall be formed composed of members of al partie6, the formation of a legally elected Sobranji, and the acceptance of Prince Nicholas of Mingrelia as ruler of Bulgaria. The return of Prince Alexander will lead to the immediate occupation of Bulgaria by Russia.