New-York tribune., 1901-04-07
TROUBLE IN THE BALKANS
MEMBERS OF THE MACEDONIAN REvO-
LUTIONARY COMMITTEE ARRESTED.

Sofia Bulgaria, April 6-An the leading members
of the Macedonian committee here, including
Sarafoff arrested last night The building
in which the committee met has been sealed UP.
The Macedonian committee has been the source
of considerable trouble to Turkey lately. 1t re-
Gently summed extraordinary congress to
meet March 81. for the purpose of considering
the complications in Macedonia, where great ex-
citement has prevailed and lively developments
have been expected. The date of meeting of the
congress later postponed until April H. Only
the action of Russia. supported by Austria and
Great Britain. has prevented outbreak in Mace
donia. On March an imperial trade ordered the
concentration of fifty thousand Turkish troops
the Bulgarian frontier, a result of the agitation
Of the revolutionary committees in Macedonia.
Prince Ferdinand is said have been opposed to
the operations of the Macedonian committee. but he
was powerless to stop the work of the revolution
lists in Bulgaria, who have been furnishing
to the Macedonans Many arrests of armed Bull
garians have taken place in Macedonia, among
them being Buloarian officers. priests and mer-
chants 1t is said that they were all proved to be
accompces of the revolutionary movement
The Macedonian committed through its agents
in Paris, has been publishing accounts of increas-
ing lawlessness in the Balkans, which at
trbuted particularly in Macedonia. TO the
agement the Turkish Government had received
from Russia. Austria and Great Britain Russia
is said to have proposed that Servia. Bulgaria and
Greece should greatly reduce their armies on con-
ditiOn that the powers give a pledge to protect
their independence to which it added. the
assent of Austria and Great Britain had been OBJ
tained.
Recently, in consequence Of reports that the Bull
garians were contemplating the destruction Of the
Macedonian railroads, Turkish troops were sent to
guard the lines and bridges The Turkish troops
have been charged with terrible excesses at Uskub
and elsewhere. but the reports have been denied
at ConstantinOple Some skirmshes have occurred
between the Bulgarian revolutionsts and the Turk
ish troops but the real facts do not appear to have
been aScertaina BILE. owing the exaggeratons of
the parties concerned in the dispute.
A dispatch to The Associated Press from Odessa
on April said it was asserted there that the Rus
sian political agent in Bulgaria had to st.
petersburg pessmistiC report regarding the situa
ton in the Balkans declaring that the Bulgarian
Government unable cope effectively with
the agitation of the Macedonian Committee, and
that there was constant danger OF some untoward
incident leading to confagration The report
emphasized the ominous fact that Turkey would
listen to suggestion of foreign intervention with
regard TO Macedonia. because any concession OF
Macedonian territory would lead a holy war.
The report further declared that the only thing
was for Russia TO help Bulgaria to suppress the
Macedonian Committee.
AT about that time several agents of the Mace
dontan Committee were imprisoned by order OF the
bulgarian Minister Of the Interior, and a number
of Bulgarian officers resigned their commissions
rather than obey the order of the Minister OF War
forbdding military men to retain membership in
the Macedonian societies.
The Macedonian Committee in January. 1899.
a memorial TO the European powers setting forth
the demands of the Macedonians. 1t declared that
If European diplomacy did Introduce in
Macedonia and in the Viayet of Adrianople re-
forms analogous to those given to Crete the popu-
lace would be driven in despair to resort to ex-
treme measures. In brief the scheme was as fol-
lows:
FirstIThe formation OF province with Salon
capital, comprising
listing vilayets OF Salonica, Monastir and ITskub
Second-The nomina tion Governor General for
five years Of person belonging the predomi-
Third-The formation OF General Assembly
composed of representatives elected directly by the
Fourth-A guarantee of personal liberty and in
riolablity Of dcmcile for all the inhabitants OF the
province without distinction. Suppression OF the
press censorship.
Fifth--AIl officials to be chosen from among the
locality of their service The high state oficiaIs 70
6e nominated by the Sultan the proposal OF the
,ioVernor-General Others TO be appointed directly
by the Governor General
sixth--The recognition OF the principal languages
language. '
Seventh-The different Christian nationalities 10
oiSaIlze thelr own schools without interference.
EiShth-The formation of a militia force re-
Governor General "
Ninth-The fixing of the budget and the taxes Of
the province by the General Assembly
Ienth-Ihe nomination OF commission elab-
crate under the presidency Of the Governor Gen
Eeventh-A general amnesty for all the political
prisoners and for all emigrants
Twelfth-The introduction OF Identical reforms IN
the Vilayet Of Adrianope.
The revolutionary movement among the Mace
domains is an outcome Of the revolution In Crete
which led the interference Of the powers and ~
state OF seIni-independence being given TO il
under Prince George of Greece. as High Commits
sloner OF the powers
PANIC STAYED BY A MUEzzTN.