The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-07
The Balkan Confusion.

A Constantinope dispatch states that
the long expected general insurrection of
the European provinces of Turkey will be
proclaimed by the Macedonian committee
on April 20.
This Macedonian committee has sue
ceeded, with the help Of the neighboring
Servians and Bulgarians, in putting the
Balkan peninsula in a very confused and
confusing condition. Russia contributing,
as usual to the confusion through intrigue
and actual war material. Whether the
Macedonian committee will issue the
proclamation promised depends upon the
celebrity with which Turkey can mass
troops in the west in the Monastir district
and the whole region through which the
Mitrovitza and Salonikaa railway runs.
Austria, in the eventaof the precipitation
Of general insurrection,q is prepared
to guard Bosnia and Herzegovina which
were made over to her by the Berlin
treaty in 1878. Austria. with Russia,
brought on the threa tening state OF af-
fairs in the Balkan peninsula by notifying
the sultan to- reform the disorderly ad-
ministration of his European provinces,
knowing that such demand has often been
made before. and that every time the sui
tan has made some show of compliance,
there has been in insurrectionary out
break. In 1877: the powers demands
precipitated the Russo Turkish war. If
q general fnsurrection is now declared.
Austria and Russia must bear the respon
sibility of the result, which will probably
be interference in Turkey and another
European Turkey. =. ..>...,-, .....,. .
Before this takes place, however, it is
likely that Turkey will give the interfer-
ing powers the toughest kind of fight, fol
she has large and admirably drilled army
of 100000 men on peace footing. If the
concert Of Europe doesn't want a big: wa,
on it's hands it will hold back Russia ant
Austria, who started the brigandage ani
practical state .ofewar in the districts O.
Albania. Menastir and, Macedonia. q Ths
Mohammedan subjects Of the sultan ar,
in arms against the execution Of any re-
forms by their master under the naandat,
OF the powers: and are incidental.
slaughtering Christians, while the Christ
tian subjects arc saughtering the Mo
hammedan subjects. Great Britain doa
not want another; war over the Easter
question. She has had enough of wa
and has just, after much trouble settle,
the boundaries Of her. Alden territor
with Turkey, by making a show -of force
and her foreign office recently addresses
note to Austria and Russia giving then
a gentle caution not to proceed too IA
in fooling with the Turk so that the peac
of Europe may BE preserved. (.
If the Macedonian committee issues it
proclamation the concert Of Europe
will have to decide quickly what it wi
& do. The expenses Of the insurrection i
Macedonia are largely financed by til
Pan slavist revolutionary committees. ali
the whole Slavic population expect Russi
to interfere In their behalf as against Tur
key, in case they are pressed closely. b
the Turks. Russia has several times IN
terfered in Turkey on the ground of eth
mic affinity with the slavs. This was til
motive for her interference in 1917
which cost her about 500, 900, 900, Will
she lost three-fourths the ,spoils of ws
she had acquired, through the interfe,
ence of the other European powers VIII
wanted some OF the plumber tRemseIve
and took it. Il ss ~. -.
The Russian consul, Cherbina, who WE
recently shot at Mitroyitza had previeu,
ly said that il he was shot Turkeys E,
tinction is certain referring to prol
able European Intervention, An view of Il
critical condition of affairs in the Balka
districts. The insurgents have taken Il
consul's declaration as indicating su
help from Russia. If the general irsu
rection takes place, it will be an ca.
prey to the Turks, if Europe does not ii
terfere, for they have no leader wortl
of the name and their movements wou
be the cratic movements of band
brigands and a miscellaneous rabble, wi
q sprinkling Of orderly troops under Ru
sian officers.
T the concert Of Europe wants
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