THE ARRESTS AT SOFIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 79, 11 April 1901, Page 1

THE ARRESTS AT SOFIA.

The following information is interesting in view of the arrest of tho members of the Macedonian Committee at Sofia, as related in a recent Times cablegram The Macedonian Committee at Sofia, in Bulgaria, sent out to the European Powers, in January, ’99, a memorial in which their demands were stated in the form of an elaborate scheme. They declared that if European diplomacy did not soon introduce in Macedonia and in the village of Adrianople reforms analogous to those given to Crete, the population would be driven in despair to resort to extreme measures. The scheme was as follows:—1. The formation of a province, with Salonika as the capital, and comprising the already existing villages of Salonika, Monastic, and °XJskub. 2, The nomination as Governor-General for five years of a person belonging to the predominant nationality of the province. 13. The formation of a General Assembly composed of representatives elected directly by the people. 4. A guarantee of personal liberty and inviolability of domicile for all the inhabitants of the province without distinction. Suppression of the press censorship. 5. All officials to be chosen from among that section of the population predominating in the locality of their service. The high State officials to be nominated by the Sultan on the proposal of the GovernorGeneral. Others to be appointed directly by the Governor-General. 6. The recognition of the principal language of the province on the same footing as the Turkish language.' 7. The different Christian nationalities to organise their own schools without interference. 8. The' formation of a militia force, recruited in the province, under the [ orders of the Governor-General, the maximum strength representing 1 per cent, of the male population. The superior officers to be appointed by the Sultan on the proposal of the Governor-General, the remainder receiving their commissions direct from the Governor-General. 9. Tho fixing of the Budget and the taxes of the province by the General Assembly. Twenty-five per cent, of the revenue to be paid into the common Treasury of the State for the needs of the Empire; the remainder to be employed f-for the needs of the province. 10.' Thehomination of a commission to elaboratlfhnder the presidency of the Governor-G&eral, the details •of the reforms to be introduced. 11. A general amnesty for all the political prisoners and for all emigrants. 12. The introduction of identical reforms in the vilayetof Adrianople,