THE CRISIS IN BULGARIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7795, 15 November 1886, Page 6

THE CRISIS IN BULGARIA.

London, October G. General Kaulbars, the Russian Diplomatic Agent at Sofia, continues to adopt so menacing an attitude that he is suspected of trying to provoke a rupture, thus affording a sort of justification for the occupation of Bulgaria by Russian troops. The Regency have endeavoured to pacify him by raising the state of siege, and undertaking to obey Russia so far as the constitution will allow. General Kaulbars, however, insists upon complete obedience to the Czar's demands, scarcely deigning to listen to the arguments of the Regency. In defiance of all diplomatic etiquette, he on Sunday, Ootober 3, harangued a great crowd in Sofia. He said that he came there to express the desire of the Czar. Here he was interrupted by many of those present, who called out, "We want no desire, bat we will listen to advice if it be good." General Kaulbars then went on to say that he bad heard a Russian had been beaten because he had cheered the Czar. The people again interrupted him, declaring that they had beaten the man not because he had oheered the Czar, but because he had cried, Down with Bulgaria and that the same fate should befall all who said this. General Kaulbars then proceeded to give the three points of the Russian demand, but he was constantly interrupted by the crowd, who declared that they would receive no orders : that the state of siege had been raised already, and that the prisoners would not be released. If they were released they would be stoned by the populace. They declared, moreover, that the eleotioos would not be adjourned, and that the law must be respected. If it were not respeoted no progress was possible. General Kaulbars answered that the Emperor would not recognfse the Sobranje. Here, again, he was interrupted by the words, "We do not care, whoever violates the Constitution will be stoned-" General Kaulbars' patience was now exhausted, and adopting a menacing tone, he threw the responsibility for the consequences which would arise from not listening to Russia's advice on the country, and declared that the Bulgarian people as a nation did not desire the constitution, bat a few men only* At this point the shooting became so violent that General Kaulbars had to leave the Tribune. General Kaulbars, a few days since, sent for the Macedonian Voivode Babadjan, one of the leaders of the abortive insurrectionary movement in Macedonia last year, and asked him whether he had a sufficient following of trustworthy Macedonians in the country, and how muoh money he would require to provoke a revolutionary movement in Sophia to upset the existing Government by a bold coup de main. Russia would then immediately occupy Bulgaria, and undertake to procure the liberation of Macedonia from the Turkish yoke. Babadjan undertook to place himself in communication with his fellow-Macedonians, and to enlist them for the Russian scheme. His overtures, however, were unfavourably received, and the whole plot was betrayed by one of the persons in whom Babadjin believed he could place absolute confidence. A sensation has been caused in the Bulgarian capital by the arrest of the Bulgarian Brigadier-General Sohiwaroff, who had been maintaining clandestine relations with Gen. Kaulbars. - M. Tisza has answered the interpellations addressed to him in the Hungarian Diet on the Bulgarian question. He declared that no change has occurred in the relations of Austria with other States, that the Berlin Treaty suffices for her Eastern interests, and that she is averse to any protectorate in the Principality being set up by any individual Power, recognising in Turkey the exolusive right of intervening by arms. The Minister's speeoh gave general satisfaction in the Chamber, but some members oomplained that it was not sufficiently borne out by aotion.