MACEDONIA. LONDON, February 26.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 19

MACEDONIA. LONDON, February 26.

During a debate in the House of Commons on Macedonia Earl Percy declared titet he was in Taowise satisfied that the Mjirzßteg programme, which was the out- j come of a conference between the Czar ' «nd the Emperor Francis Joseph of Aaetria at that place, had failed. Sir Edward Grey said that as far as railways., favoured trade they had our good !WTll. He trusted that the Novi Bizar scheme would not lead to difficulties (within concert. Britain was prepared to) relinquish her gendarmes scheme" if a better one were suggested. He was certain that if concert were determined the question could be settled by a Turkish , Governor of capacity and character known j to the Powers and irremovable for a term ! of years. He should be given a free hand J to secure an effective administration. If the appointment were accompanied by a reduction of Turkish troops a collective ' guarantee should be given that Turkey' 6 dominions- would not be interfered with , from outside. The danger was not that the Powers were likely to quarrel, bi*t £hat concert was likely to perish from lack <>f vitality. The condition of Macedonia, 5f neglected, might precipitate a catastrophe, but this was preventable by union and determination in concert, which the Government would continue to do its utmost to secure. Lord E. Fitzmamice, in the debate en Macedonia ip the House of Lords, hinted *hat isome of the Powers feared that judi«iat reform was not in itself what was tnost urgently needed. To stop outrages «n3 suppress roving bands some more effective proposal ought to be forthcoming. Lord. Eanaiownse (Leader of the Opposiiion) . gathered' that &reat Britain was keeping an observant attitude. r> February 27. | Commenting o n Sir E. Grey's statement WegaTding Macedonia, The Times foreBifldows a Tevival of the Turkish Governorship proposal as contained in LoTd Lansdowue's dcs-patch of September, 1903.