PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13150, 9 August 1913, Page 3

PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE.

DREAM OF A FEDERATED BALKAN EMPIRE. ■ A special telegram from Christchurch states : — - i , ; • * Mr John Zavitchanos, the representative of the National Greek Society), who is at present m Christchurch, was seen by a reporter with regard to the present position m the Balkans and the problems of the future. Recent happenings m Bulgaria, he said, had practically brought about the downfall of King Ferdinand, and at present a plot was afoot to dethrone that monarch and place a Slav prince on the throne. The dream of a federated Balkan Empire was- never more than a dream. Greek Christians m the Turkifh provinces had suffered for hundreds of years under Turkish oppression and tyranny, and /Greeks hated the Turks, but it was an, open question whether they did not -hate the: Christian Bulgarians even more fiercely. In tho next five years he prophesied Greece and Bulgaria would come to blows over tho question of which should possess Macedonia. The Bulgarians were using -every effort to coerce the Greeks- in Macedonia into calling themselves Bulgars, but these efforts were not succeeding. The Hellenismos had had its agents throughout Macedonia for years, and when the Greek army crossed into Macedonia during tho recent war 60,000 Macedonian Greeks produced hidden rifles and ammunition, and by their accession made the small and weak Greek army into a largo, well- trained and effective fighting force. • Theso Greeks would never side with Bulgaria against th.eir own countrynita. The Bulgarians, according to Mr 2a\itchantas, "vyere a really bad. lot. In the matter of outrages 'they 'outdid .'. the Turks. They had adopted a Russian policy and- Russian propaganda, and tho Macedonian Greeks would have none of thorn. The Servian Greeks, however, might be depended on to stand by Bulgaria m case of trouble. . The society of which Mr Zavitchanos is a representative had spcrjt sfe much as £10,000,000 m, .Macedonia, and had sbnt armed, bands to protect, the schools and churches. ' :.