THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED BULGARIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1916, Page 7

THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED BULGARIA.

AN ENGLISHMAN'S FORTY YEARS IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

"In tlie year 1873 an English barrister, who was at that time genera! secretary of the Social Science Association, applied for three months' leave of absence to proceed to Constantinople for the purpose of looking into a professional business for the acquisition of which opportunity had somewhat unexpectedly presented itsel. It was understood that, if he found it suitable, lie should not return. For 42 years, that is to say, until the close of 1914, that barrister, now Sir Edwin Pears, made the Turkish capital his home." So writes the Glasgow Herald in reviewing Sir Edwin's "Recollections of Forty Years in Constantinople (1873-1915)." A German once said to Sir Edwin, "Sir Edwin, you have written 'The Destruction of the Greek Empire'; I think you are going to live "to write 'The Destruction of the Turkish Empire.'" And Sir Edwin Pears is 80 years of age.

THE BULGARIAN ATROCITIES. ''A very slight and superficial acquaintance may suffice to make it abundantly clear that the recollections of -one who has been an eye-wTtness of the events which have taken place in the Near East during the last two-score years cannot Fail to be of absorbing interest. And, indeed, the part played by Sir Edwin Pears has not always been confined to that of the spectator. "It was he who first drew attention to the Moslem atrocities in Bulgaria. With regard to thig we have the testimony of Mr. Gladstone in his famous pamphlet, 'Bulgarian Horrors and the Question of the East.' In this he wrote: 'The first alarm respecting tin; Bulgarian outrages was, I believe, sounded in the Daily News on June 23.' And he added: 'I believe it is understood that the gentleman who has fought this battle—for a battle it has been—with such courage, intelligence, conscientious care is Mr. iPears, of Constantinople, correspondent of the Daily News.' "There was more than a flattering compliment in the statement made by Mr. Schuyler, the United States ConsulGeneral, to the effect that for America and the British tempiro Mr. Pears was the discoverer of the existence of Bulgaria. In view of the Russo-Turkish war, which cay without exaggeration be looked upon as the culminating result of his revelations, and in view of what that war was the means of achieving on behalf of Bulgaria, he must also be allowed to have played no inconsiderable part in obtaining for what was an oppressed Turkish province the independence which an unscupulous rule? seems to be on the point of turning against its liberator. "When hostilities had actually broken out in 1914, the Goeben and Breslau entered Turkish waters, where, in conformity with international law, they should have been disarmed. But from the first the behaviour of the officers in command was one of insolence and defiance of international usages, and even of the amenities of civilised life.

"Of this Sir Edwin Pears gives a glaring instance:—'The French Messageries 9teamer Saghalien, with a number of Englishmen, Italians and French subjects on board, was held up for a while at Chanalc. The Goeben, which by interantional law had ceased to have the right to act as a belligerent once she had taken refuge'in Turkish waters, insisted upon visiting the French ship. . . " 'The passengers had ranged themselves on deck as the German crew returned to their boat, and the officer observed a gentlemanly-looking man with a number of papers sticking out of his breast pocket. He went up to him, took one out, read the address, and asked tha owner who was the addressee. The owner replied, "She is my wife." "Then," said he, "you can write her another letter," tearing the envelope with its contents into pieces, and throwing them on the deck.'"

RUSSIA AND CONSTANTINOPLE. Sid Edwin Pears recalls how it was that Russia did not occupy Constantinople at the time of the last RussoTurkish war, when it was within her graps. It was our Ambassador, Sir William White, who told him of the influences that kept the Russian army outside Constantinople after it had beaten the Turk? in a hard campaign. "Sir Edwin had remarked that he supposed it was tlie bringing up of the British Fleet and the despateli of Indian troops to Malta which prevented tin: occupation of Constantinople by the Russians. 'No,' said Sir William White, 'it was not that,' and then he added: 'Bismarck, the only man who knew of the secret arrangement w'th Austria by which Russia was permitted to cross the 'Balkans, in consideration of Austria having the right to administer Bosnia and Herzegovina, learned that Austria was making arrangements for mobilising her armies because Russian troops had pushed on to San Stefano. He knew also of the British preparations with regard to our Fleet and the despatch of Indian troops. He, therefore, at once telegraphed to the Kmperor of Austria advising him to do nothing. 'England will do our business.' Austrra did not mobilise, and England obtained the credit, or the odium, of having saved Turkey from the occupation of its capital and of having become the one friend of Turkey.'" Talking once with Sir Edwin, the Russian flencral Skobeleff said "that every Russian was born with the belief that it was the destiny of his country to take possession of Constantinople." "And when in your opinion is that likely to happen?" The answer was, "It is impossible that we should attempt to hold , hold Constantinople,, leaving a strong Tower like Austria'in our rear. Our J road to this capital lies through Vienna." j