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Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9173, 5 August 1890, Page 4

The news from the East of Europe is as disquieting as any which has been received for some years. The pith of it lies in the announced intention of the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Stambouloff, to proclaim his sovereign King Ferdinand of Bulgaria. Naturally, the news has been received in different ways in different circles. Neither in Constantinople nor in St Petersburg is the action of this Danubian Warwick regarded with favourable eye. The Czar’s Government, with expectant eye, declares that it will regard the proclamation as an excuse for tearing up the Treaty of Berlin. The sublime Porte, with unusual cleverness, has anticipated the event by exercising an act of sovereignty. The Porte’s appointment of the Bulgarian bishops, having been ratified by the four European Powers, the sentiment of Europe may bo said to be secured against the Bulgarian coup d'etat. Nevertheless, though Europe has declared indirectly its sympathy with the Sultan, and Russia has directly pronounced against independence, the Prime Minister announces his intention of carrying out his programme of king-making. The execution of Major Panitza was, apparently, not a solitary event of no significance. It begins to look as if that terrible ceremony was the first of a series of events destined to play a conspicuous part in the history of our time.

It is the first complication which has arisen since the old pilot went down the gangway of the good ship Fatherland, leaving the young skipper in charge. Before the old man was his boat to row him shorewards; before the younger lay the open sea stretching moodily away to the dark horizon, and where sea and sky met in a bank of dark cloud. Out of the cloud has come this flash. We all remember the great struggle of tha Russo-Turkish war, and the efforts on the Russian troops and nation, by| which the Bulgarian people North ol| the Balkan were set free in a way? from the Turkish yoke. The Bear] had intended to make a meal for him- ] self but was baulked by the Treaty of 1 Berlin, and has watched matters with most jealous eye ever since. When Alexander was appointed, the gratitude of the Battenberg was regarded as certain to do for the Czar what both war and diplomacy had failed. Prince Henry was an officer of the Russian army, a persona grata in the Russian Court; But he was ungrateful. He had a keen eye for the European situation, and he was able enough to understand the benefits of the policy of “ Bulgaria for the Bulgarians.” Ambitious as Lucifer, he saw in his mind’s eye a Balkan Confederation of twenty millions of people with himself at its head, and Europe united at its back. He began by adding a large slice of Roumelia to his dominions, seizing it by curving his grasp round the end of the Balkan range. A game of cheek and countercheck ensued. Servia was let loose with superior force upon Prince Alexander. Prince Alexander astonished the world by destroying the Servian armies wherever he found them. After much underground diplomacy Alexander was kidnapped, and Europe, having begun to distrust him, left him to sink into obscurity.

Then the Austrians thrust a nominee into the vacant seat. The Bear has been very savage ever since, and the Bear’s agents have been manoeuvring very actively underground. But one of them has been promptly shot, having been abandoned by his outside friends to his fate, and now matters are coming to a crisis. The two Powers most interested have made their protests, each in his several fashion, but the Austrian nominee is making preparations to put on the royal crown and declare his independence. It looks as if the abandonment of the unhappy Panitza were regarded in the Bulgarian Cabinet as a sign that there will be no serious attempt on the part of Russia to interfere any further. The action of the Powers, on the other hand, in ratifying the appointment of the bishops, merely means that tha Powers recognise the Porte now as the virtual Sovereign. It does not necessarily imply that if another becomes actual Sovereign they will not extend to his acts the same ratification. Either the action of M. Stambouloff is based on an understanding with tbe Powers, or it is not. If not, we shall probably hear no more of tbe proposed coronation. If it is, then we shall have the coronation almost immediately. After that tbe possibilities are various, and may be startling.