THE CLOUD IN THE EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12238, 6 April 1903, Page 4

THE CLOUD IN THE EAST.

Affairs in the Balkans have a habit of becoming exceedingly grave and then suddenly readjusting themselves, a habit which we may earnestly hope will be dominant now. But in spite of our faith in the prevalence qf this good custom, it must be confessed that the outlook excites the gloomiest forebodings. It is easy for Russia to impress upon Turkey the necessity of suppressing disturbances promptly and easy, for the European Powers to agree to take no advantage of each other should intervention be necessary. But in the Balkan States smoulders the cruel fire of religious and racial hatred, made more intense by the continued effort of Europe to smother it. • The Turkish Government, saturated with modern cynicism, may be as ready to crush Moslem disturbers of the peace as Christian. But the Turkish soldier is still the same fanatical Sunnite as when he first stormed Constantinople and will turn upon the Sultan at the .first conviction that the Porte if opposing a "Holy War." It may be found necessary that Russian and Austrian troops should be marched into the Balkan States—for necessity is easily found when statesmen at heart are willing—and then the trouble will begin in earnest. For not only would Turkey resist such, a step, but if her resistance were overpowered there would be the still more difficult question of marching the troops out again. Our consolation is that the British Empire, in a remarkable manner, seems to have dropped out of immediate interest in the Balkan controversy. But if a great struggle started she„might at any time be drawn into its vortex*