THE PORTE WARNED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 6

THE PORTE WARNED

CIVIL REFORMS STARVED BY LACK OF PCXES. MACEDONIAN FINANCES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received April 8,10.4 G p.m.) LONDON, April 8. A Bluo-book which has just been issued shows that the rapprochement of the Russian and British plans dealing with Macedonia are slowly progressing, but as the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs forgets the. fact that civil reforms in 'Macedonia aro starved by lack of funds, Sir Edward Grey proposes that civil needs shall bo tho first charge on the Macedonian Budget, and tho balance bo handed to tins Porto for military requirements. Sir Edward Grey warns the Porte that the present deficit must be made good, otherwise Britain will withdraw her conditional sanction to a 3 per cent, increase of the Customs.

■‘Tho Times” says while iho deficit in tho Macedonian Budget is three hundred thousand sterling, negotiations have boon renewed for heavy commitments on tho part of Turkey for the construction of throo ircsh sections of tho Baghdad railway.

Sir Edward Grey’s nroposn-ls aro that the Gendarmerie now controlled by officers of tho Powers should bo increased so is to enable it to pursue tho marauding bands, and that a Turkish Governor of capacity and character, known to the powers ami irremovable for a term of years, should bo given n free hand to secure effective administration in Macedonia. t was announced the other day that an effort is progressing to amalgamate tho _ Bushian and British schemes for reforms »n Macedonia. in order to thwart tho OcrmaiiAustrian attempt to separata Great Britain and Iluasia on tho question.