Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-24
Russian Government Explains
Attitude of the Great Powers.
REFORM FOR BULGARIA
MACEDONIAN COMMITTEES CON
TRIBUTING TO THE TURMOIL.
Sought to Attain Selfish Ends by Du-
plicity in Pretending to Work
for Their Co-Religionists.

ST. PETERSBURG. September 24-The
Russian government has issued an official
note reiterating that the attitude OF the
powers in regard to the Austro-Russlan
reform scheme for Macedonia is unchanged
and that, consequently, neither Turkey nor
Bulgaria can expect support from any quar-
ter in the event of open or secret resistance
to that scheme.
The government, after pointing out that
the suggested REFORMS were at the outset
attended with good results. continues:
Not Satisfied.
"These, however, did not satisfy the
Macedonian committees which have sprung
up in the Slav states. The probability
which had become apparent that the Chris
tian population would calm down under the
influence of reforms deprived these COM
mittees of all favorable ground for the real
ization of their revolutionary plans.
''While proclaiming that their object was
the protection of their co-religfOnfsts
against Turkish oppression, these commit
tees in reality seek to attain their selfish
aim of modifying the administrative sys-
tenn in the province so as to convert 1t into
Bulgarian Macedonia, to the detriment
of the rights and privileges of the other
Christian peoples, whose interest is equally
dear to orthodox Russia.
LAS the leaders found no support among
they exerted themselves to raise general
insurrection by cruel outrages and terror
ism in order to hinder the Introduction of
the projected reforms Unhappily, in spite
of the precautions of the Sofia government
the Macedonian agitation spread consider
ably in Bulgaria itself, finding support
among those who mistakenly reckoned that
the outbreak thus caused would compel
Russia to alter her program and proclaim
herself the champion of the unrealizable
plans Of the leaders of the revolution.
A Fatal Mistake.
This fatal conception against which
Russia gave incessant warnings has
brought upon the Christians in the Turkish
vilayets grievous oppression. which will
only end when the incursions Of insurgents
from Bulgaria and the revolutionary activi-
ty of the committees cease. Not until then
can the immediate application of the re-
forms needed by the population and by
which they will be protected from Turkish
atrocities be insisted upon, the most ener-
getic endeavors having failed to bride the
fanaticism of the Mussulmans.
In view of the thickening complications
the Russian and Austrian governments
have reiterated their Views to this effect
both at Sofia and at Constantinople, and,
acting on the suggestion Of Austria and
Russia, all the governments Of the powers
which signed the treaty of Berlin have in
structed their representatives to Turkey
and Bulgaria to emphasize their full
unanimity in the Austro-Russian work of
pacify1ng the Balkans, so as to remove all
misconceptions of possible assistance in the
event of dangerous enterprises. These rep
resentatives have been instructed to make
declaration to the governments of Turkey
and Bulgaria as follows:
Form Of Declaration.
"'The present state of affairs in the
Turkish vilayets which is due to the GRIM
inal intentions of committees and revolu-
tionary bands, does not alter the attitude
of the powers in regard to the program of
action advanced early in the year by the
two powers most interested. Consequently
neither Turkey nor Bulgaria can rely on
the support of any power in the event of
open or secret opposition to the realization
of this scheme
The imperial government hopes this new
warning will convince Turkey, as we'll as
Bulgaria, Of the futility Of any attempt to
avoid the fulf1llment of the demands made
upon them. and cause them to take all the
measures in their power for the repression
Of the disturbances in the Balkan penin-
sula. which can only have the most serious
consequences for both the Ottoman empire
and Bulgaria.