THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 13, 9 February 1909, Page 3

THE BALKANS.

TilK PORTE AND RUSSIA'S PROPOSAL. Constantinople, February 7, The Porte has resolved to accept Russia's proposal if the principle is submitted with the counter -proposals at the Balkan Conference, which is viewed very unfavourably in .Russia. TURKEY SHORT OF MONEY. Constantinople, February 7. Owing to quarrels with the Ottoman and Deutsche Banks the Turkish Gov eminent is in urgent need of money. Already it is discounting part of the money from Austria. j - TURKEY'S COUNTER. PROPOSALS. DEPRECATED BY SERVIA. A BULGARIAN THREAT. DISQUIETING NEWS FROM MACEDONIA. Received February 8, 10 p.m. Sofia, February 3. The Porte's counter-proposals are deprecated at Sofia as calculated to increase the tension. It is stated that unless M. Isvolskv's offer is frankly accepted, the Bulgarian reservists, who remain under arms until the end of this week, may be allowed, to return home, but 'equal or larger numbers will he summoned, thus increasing the war spirit. Statesmen at Sofia emphasise that the Porte's acceptance would not preclude separate arrangements being made for the liquidation of the Turkish debt. Meantime news irom Macedonia is somewhat disquieting.

Received 8, 10.20 p.m. Vienna, February 8. The Reicbratlfs session has closed without passing a Bill for the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. TURKEY'S DEMAND. BARGAINING WITH RUSSIA. Received February 8, 11.30 p.m. Constantinople, February 8. The Porte has informed M. Isvolsky, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, that it is ready to renounce all claims against Bulgaria, provided Russia in return will consider the Russo-Turkish war indemnity fully liquidated. According to R'euter, this would entail upon Russia a sacrifice of a million sterling beyond M. Isvolsky s offer.