FUTURE OF MACEDONIA

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 24 October 1912, Page 5

FUTURE OF MACEDONIA

WHAT THE BALKAN STATES

DESIRE,

In writing of the Balkan situation recently, Mr H. C. Woods said in the Fortnightly Review: With regard to the future of Macedonia, the people of each of the neighboring States_ possess some different ideal, -which is more or less supported by their brothers within the Ottoman Empire. Whilst Servia in her heart of hearts favors a division of the country between herself, Bulgaria, and Greece, she appears unable to come to any arrangement with Bulgaria as to the future of certain districts which are in dispute between the Governments of Belgrade and Sofia. Greece also advocates a division of the country, but on such a basis that the Bulgarians and Albanians would never consent to it. Whilst Bulgaria herself and a certain section of the Macedonian Bulgars desire an autonomy for Macedonia which might further the eventual union of that unhappy province with Bulgaria, a number of the Macedonian Bulgars advocate a policy which would secure Macedonia for the Macedonians. The future appears to me entirely to depend upon the attitude of the Turks towards the Christian population. If the authorities endeavor, by more or less liberal and fair government, to regain the sympathy of the population and to carry out, at least to some extent, the promises made to the •feopl© in 1908, then Macedonia may still remain an integral part of the Ottoman Empire. A limited form of centralised government for Macedonia as a whole, or an increase in the powers of the Governors-General of the European Vilayets of Turkey, may yet save the situation. If, however, the Young Turks continue to turn a deaf ear to the repeated good advice of the disinterested Great Powers, and insist on pursuing tneir present policy of endeavoring to "Turkify" all the elements of the population, then the future will largely depend upon the agreement or nonagreement arrived at between certain of the Great Powers who have a distinct interest in Macedonia.