The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-09-25 00:00:00

A RUSSIAN ULTI3IATUM.

TILE BULGARIAN REPLY.
SOFIA, Sunday Night.
he representations made last night to the Regents
by the Russian Agent, M. Neklioudoff, have been fol-
lowed to-day by the presentation of an official note to
the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this document
Russia demands in most peremptory terms the stop-
page of all legal proceedings against the conspirators.
Immediately after presenting the note, the Secre-
tary of the Russian Agency appeared at the Foreign
Office, and announced that unless a satisfactory
reply were returned with the least possible delay, the
Russian Government would break off relations with
the Government, and that its representative would
ask for his passports.
Contrary to all anticipation, this step has been
energetically supported by the German represen-
tatives.

The Bulgarian Government have not yet replied
officially, but do not hesitate to declare their belief
that the Russian and Gorman Governments intond to
render the Government of the country by the existing
Ministry absolutely impossible, and have accordingly
intimated their intention of resigning, and thus leaving
all responsibility to those who, by thus encouraging
treachery and anarchy, appear determined to pave the
way to the occupation of the Principality of Russia,
notwithstanding her solemn declarations to the con-
trary.

MONDAY NIGHT.

The Bulgarian Government have returned it -t-e-rn-
porising reply to the Russian Note, stating that, as
the preliminary inquiry is still proceeding, and con-
sequently the Courts-martial have not yet been called
upon to pronounce judgment, the Ministry see no
reason to stay the course of justice at present.
It is stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in
answering the verbal representations of the German
Consul General, expressed his astonishment to find
the representative of a military Empire sup-
porting demands subversive of all discipline and
orderly Government. Although bitter experience has
taught the Bulgarians to regard without astonishment
any degree of unscrupulousness in the policy of
Russia, the Czar's open and persistent patronage of
the conspirators has everywhere excited the liveliest
indignation. At the same time, it has produced
some discouragement, inasmuch as such conduct
stands in flagrant contradiction to the assurances
received through the foreign Powers, to the effect
that Russia had pledged herself to abstain from all
interference in the internal affairs of Bulgaria.

THE CANDIDATES FOR THE PRINCEDOM.
ST. PETERSBURG, Monday Night.
The question of the candidates for the Throne of
Bulgaria remains an open one. The last contribution
to the subject is a suggestion in the columns of the
Nome Vremya that Russia should put forward one of
her own more promineut public men, such as Prince
Dondoulioff Korsakoff, now Governor-General of the
Caucasus. The same paper, in a leading article, says
the time has now come to make an end of the policy
of expectation and inaction. Either the present rulers
of Bulgaria must understand the necessity of radically
changing their policy, or Russia must take steps at
once to hinder them from preventing the return to the
Great Sobranje of true representatives of the will of
the Bulgarian people, such as will recognise that
Prince Alexander's successor can only be some one in
whom Russia has full confidence.

The Bulgarian Government returned on Tuesday
a firm and temperate reply to the Russian Note de-
manding the postponement of the trial of the con-
spirators. They point out that even the date of the
inquiry is not yet fixed, but add that the Government
cannot stop the cause of justice, and that there is
little risk of the 'trial jeopardising the security or
peace of the country, which might, however, be place
in some danger by publishing such Notes as that pre
sented by the Russian Agent.