AN EXILED PRINCE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13479, 26 July 1912, Page 5

AN EXILED PRINCE.

INTERESTING VISITOR TO

PAHIATUA

SUMMONED TO LEAD THE REBELS

[U-xiTJ-n Phess Association. )

Pahiatua, July 25. Pi-iiice Gustano Pikran, an exiled prince of Albania, who is at present on a visit to Pfihiatua-, ha-S received a to return and lead the- Albanian revolution. "NVlietber tho Prince will immediately respond to the 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. The position was that having been exiled from his own country, and refused a, refuge in America, he had come to New Zealand with the intention of residing here two years to become a British subject, and then to return to his native land as ai mclif-uit missionary. The receipt of tho loiter had rather upset his plans, and he would not arrive at a definite decision until ho readied Wellington on his way south on Monday. Tho letter, which is written by Isaac Ballak, leader of the revolutionary movement in North Albania, reads as follows: Asktura, May 2nd, 1912. To His Highness Gustane, the Emir of Albania. —In God and His Son we trust, and in His name we fight tho Turks for our liberty. All the chiefs agree to send this message to Your Highness, askmg you to come and lead us and our countrymen in our fight for freedom. As we have received a large number of rifles from Italy and many military officers to diroefcus this summer, tho Macedonians are with us in revolt. The number of volunteers is over 60,000. but if you come the number will bo four time's more. The politics of the Young Turks as you know, are still selfishness for your race. A great change in Turkish government is coming in the future, f woiildn^ be surprised if each of the States revolts for its 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 hands.*'

His Highness, in commenting upon the letter which he handed to the pressman for publication, stated that he. had mere influence in Albania than any of tho present revolutionary chiefs, and )u----was confident if he returned ho would have no difficulty m raising 200,000 men under arms. When his attention was drawn to the cable announcing that the Porte had ordered the suspension of iMjpii'i^y-" in Alb?"n, and that measures for pacification had been initiated, he did not express any delight. There were, ho "indicated, troublesome times in storo for lils native country for some considerable time to come. The, position was that Turkey was divided up into so many provinces, mostly of different nationalities; Albania was one of these provinces. Under the old Turkish regime Albania enjoyed a distinct Government, but under the new order of things an endeavour had 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 he did not think Albania could gain independence unless some European Christian Power helped her.

Asked as to what was likely to be the future of Turkey, Prince Gustane stated that what kept Turkey together was simply the f::ct th:'t tho European Powers had not decided to divide her. In his opinion Turkey would sooner or later be divided up into independent states.