Balkan Turmoil.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 8, 4 October 1907, Page 5

Balkan Turmoil.

INTERVENTION OF ' PO'VERS. KING'S DIPLOMACY. By Telegraph—Association—Copyright. Vienna, October 2. Austria and Russia have instructed their representatives at Belgrade, Sofia and Athens, that neither Servia, Sofia, nor Greece shall obtain terri-torial-advantage from tho action of bands who are in the habit of raiding Macedonia.

It is intended to secure the extinction of these bands, and the Porto's co-operation in securing reform will be asked for.

This step is the outcome of King Edward's recent visit to the Continent.

An Athens correspondent lately wrote an interesting account of tho doings of tho committees in'tho Greek capital in the way of sending " bands " into Macedonia. It is said that the internal organisation of tho committees in Macedonia has now been so perfected that there is no longer the same need to draw upon fighting men from Greece, and many bands are composed entirely of local levies. In the majority of cases,' however, Greek officers command the bauds. The headquarters of tho internal organisation is Salonika. One band, sent across tho frontier from Greece was composed of thirty-ono men, commanded by Lieutenant Zacharias Papadias, .who adopted .the pseudonym of " Tpufas." ' Toufas early met his fate in an encounter with a Bulgarian band at Paleor (Cailar), where he and two companions from Athens, tho brothers Icordakis, were killed. Three deputies havo laid a motion before tho Greek Chamber that a pension be allowed to the families of these fallen ."patriots." It is'said that a largo number of officers have penetrated Macedonia to assist the local bands with their experience and swords. Among theso officers wore Captain Doubiolis and Lieutenants Dinmratos and Tanoulis.

The' Greek, Government invariably denies that any officers arbtaking part in tho Macedonian band activity, and the latter conceal their identity under pseudoriysnis. It is generally believed, however, that they receive their correspondence through the intermediary of the Greek Consuls in Macedonia. Tho Turkish Minister' at Athens has reSeatedly made representations to the fellenic Government in regard to ..the necessity of curbing the activity of the, committees, but is mot with the reply that nothing can bo done so long as tho Bulgarian bauds continue their exploits in Macedonia. The state of Macedonia was-, on August it, brought before the British Minister for Foreign Affairs by a deputation headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, which pointed out the failure of the scheme of reform introduced in 1903 to check the terrible massacres in that country. Sir Edward Grey) whilo agreeing'that further reform was necessary, reminded the deputation that Great Britain did not control the "whole conscience" of Europo. "It ia our duty, as part of that conscience, to mako our voic9 heard," he said, "but the final action and tho amount of the results which may be obtained depend on the consent of the whole.' . The Minister added that he would direct his efforts to two purposes —suppression of the bands, and judicial reforms. Tho King's subsequent interview with the Emperor of Austria at Ischl included a discussion of the Macedonian question.