HIS COUNTRY CALLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8183, 26 July 1912, Page 1

HIS COUNTRY CALLS

ALBANIA IN REVOLT PRINCE GUSTAVE WANTED ON THE SCENE. NEWS FROM HOME. FBESS ASSOCIATION. PAHIATUA, July 25. Prince Gustavo Pi kran , an exiled Prince of Albania, who is at present on a visit lo Pahiatua, has received a call to return ami lead an Albanian revolution. Whether the Prince will immediately respond to tho call of his people, however, is a moot question. When interviewed by a ‘‘Pahiatua Herald” representative to-day, his Highness stated that the petition had just arrived by the last mail from Europe, and he had not had time to consider it. Tho posit ion was that, having been exiled from his own country and refused refuge in America, ho had come to New Zealand with the intention of residing hero two years in order to become a British subject, and then to return to his native laud as a medical missionary. The receipt of the letter had rather upset his plans, and he would not arrive at a definite decision until he reached Wellington on his way south on, Monday. The letter, which is written by Isaac Bullafc, leader of the revolutionary movement in North Albania, reads ns follows; Asktura. May 2nd, 1912. To his Highness Gustave, tho Emir of Albania. In God and His Son we trust, and in His Name wo fight the Turks for our liberty. All chiefs agree to send this message to your Highness, asking you to come and lead us and our countrymen iu our fight for freedom, as wo havo received a largo number of rifles from Italy and many military officers to direct us this summer. The ~ Macedonians are with us in revolt. Tho number of volunteers is over 60,000. Bui if you come tho number will be four times more. The politics of the Young Turks, as you know, arc still selfishness for I their race. A great change in Turkish Government is coming in future; I wouldn’t be surprised if each of tho States revolts for independence. Many secret things come to us through European Christian Governments, but I would not write them hero as I am afraid they will get into tho enemy’s hand. I aui, your servant for the freedom o( the country, ISAAC BULLAK.

His Highness, in commenting upon the letter, which ho handed to the pressman for publication, stated that he had more influence "in Albania than anr of tho present revolutionary chiefs,' and. he was confident that if ho returned he would have mo difficulty in raising 200,000. men under arms.

When his attention was . drawn’ to;-a cablegram.-announcing that . the Ports bad ordered, suspension of hostilities, in ■Albania, and that measures . for. napification had been initiated, the .Prince did hot express any great delight. There were, he indicated, troublesome times in' store for his native country for some considerable time to come- The position was that Tnrkey was divided. up into oo many provinces, mostly: of different nationalities. Albania was one of these provinces. . Under the old Turkish regime Albania enjoyed distinct government, but under, the new order of things an endeavour bad been .made to wrest this from them and to make them Turks. It was against this they had rebelled. They would not aim at independence if the Turkish Government would ’ treat them fairly, but on the other hand lie did not think Albania conld gain independence unless some European Christian power helped her. Asked as to what was likely to be the future of Turkey, Prince Gustav© stated that what kept Turkey together was simply the foot that the European Powers had not decided to divide, her. In his opinion Turkey would sooner or later be divided up into independent States.