The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-26
BALFoUR ON BALKANS
Britain's Premier Addresses a Letter to
the Archbishop of Canterbury.

DiItdun TfCIUIST AUuFCSSCS a LSIICT 10
the Archbishop of Canterbury.
London, Sept. 26.-Premier Ba1four in
a lengthy letter to tho archbishop Of Can
terbury, DR.. Davidson, discusses the Mac
edonian situation. The letter is reply
to the archbishops action in drawing at
tention to the growing uneasiness among
churchmen at the apparent apathy of the
powers, while unspeakable atrocities are
perpetrated In Macedonia. -. -:~.
Mr. Balfour says that he Is In entire
sympathy with the feelings of horror and
indignation, and fully understands the de-
sire to give expression In public meeting
| to the sentiment of Reproduction which re
cent events justified.
Mr.. Balfour then proceeds to analyze
the situation. He says:
eve have not to deal with simple
question of misgovernment or oppression
by Turkish officials, but with problem
complicated by the fact that the Chris
tan population of Macedonia is rent in
fragments by differences Of race aggra-
vated by dferences Of religion' and in adj
dition toFasthe Ills inflicted by a corrupt
and incapable administration and by an
ill-paid and undisciplined sodiery and by
| a detestable system Of taxation, we have
to reckon with all the ills which, in a
population not imbued with western ideas
of humanity, rival nationalities and sects
do not scruple to inflict on one another"
&Brifaln's Attitude. Is IL ~ va
Coming to s-the question Of the attitude
Of Great Britain, Mr.. Balfour points out
that Russia, Austria and Turkey cannot
be Indifferent to a territorial redistribu-
ton in the peninsula, while Greece, Bull
garia, Servia and Rumania are all inter-
ested in the fate of the province whose
| Christian population is made up from all
! their nationalities. These external COM
! plications are doubled by Internal ones,
| J>oo ~ toto =
hammedans fearing Christian rule, while
the eXarchists and Christians persecute
| the patriarchists. The Greeks who are
patrarchists would sooner find protection
under the rule Of the sultan than be left
to fight the matter out with the Bulga-
| rians, who are 'exarchists.
! 1T is with problem such as this that
one has to DEAL says Mr.. Balfour, land
! I cannot but believe that the best hope
Of dealing with 1t lies In the continued
1 cooperation Of Russia and Austria,
strengthened with the support and aided
i by the advice Of the other signatories of
the treaty of Berlin
Rrltaln,s Message to Bulgaria.
Three weeks ago Prince Ferdinand of
| Bulgaria dispatched a personal envoy to
! British government to ascertain it's atti-
tude toward the 5 Balkan situation The
agent completed his inquiries yesterday
and left for Sofia IA member Of the Ar
menian Relief association gives the fol-
lowing version Of the Bulgarian agent
private statements respecting the results
of his mission: '.
while Lord 'Laflsdowne for the time
being favors the Russo Austrian endeav-
or to pasify. Macedonia without mourning
international dangers which would result
from European intervention, I think it
safe to say that he has no intention OF
withdrawing British influence from the
I[Ra1k9nS should the Russo Are frio r,
scheme fail. Great Britain stands firmly
for preserving and Building up the Bal
kan ,nationalities.,e I. have been assured
that If necessary the Balfour, govern
will take strong measures to support
this policy" t5sT VI. ~ .ai s