THE NEAR EAST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 589, 18 August 1909, Page 5

THE NEAR EAST.

• « —; FINANCIAL CONTROL OF MACEDONIA. POWERS' CONCE3BION. TURKEY TO WORK HEE OWN REFORM. (Bt Tolegraph.— Press AeeoclaUoa.—GowrltUU (Reo. August 17, 10,5 p.m.) Constantinople, August 17. The Ambassadors of tho Powers have presented tho Porte with a collective Note, intimating that the Powers have decided to suppress the International Financial Commission in Macedonia. The Porto has received the communication with great satisfaction. The member* of the Commission will enter Turkey's service for the purpose of reorganising the Turkish Empire's general finance. v ■, Tho Powers' Note is eonsidered significant at the present juncture, when tho Powers,/; are striving- to prevent a disturbance jn the. Near East. .'/ . (In oonscquonco of tho atrocities in Macedonia in 1902, the Powers intervened iu th« administration of that province. Tks International Financial Commission was ultimatelyestablished to control the finances, also a gendarmerie to enforce law and order. Last year Britain and Russia were' making proposals to • .draw still .closer the bonds of international oontrol when Turkey's peaceful revolution ocourred, and the Anglo-Russian proposals wero dropped in the hope that, the new regime in Turkey would itself govern Macedonia satisfactorily. The new rogimo has since got rid of tho Sultan, and has apparently established itself more firmly j and tho withdrawal of the International Financial Commission is a further vote of confidence by tho Powers in tho Turkish Government. Tho giving of a free hand to Turkey to effect reform in Macedonia/ may possibly incline her administrators to look more favourably on the proposed solution of the Cretan question on a finanoial basis. The possible purchase of Cr«to by Greece has been, mooted, but Turkey's attitudo has been in effect ' that Crete means more to the Turk than cash J that Turkey has. lost prestige in losing Bosnia and Herzegovina, aud intends to loso no more.; ■Still, the Turkish Governmont is in tho need' of money.] . ■".'■.,-

PRO-CREEKS IN CRETE. THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO KING GEORGE. (Rcc.' August 17, 10.5 p.m.) . ■ .• .-. London; August 17. Tho Cretan. Administration Committee took the, oath of allegiance to King Georgo of Greece before the Bishop. : Tho official gazette at Canoa has published a consular note intimating tho decision of the protecting Powers concerning tho removal of the Greek flag from tlie fortress. <