The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-26
WHYPOWERS WONTINTERVENE
BALFOIR EXPLAINS ITI ALTON
IN MACEDONIA.
turkeys Misruie Matched by the Work OF
Revolutionary Committees In Incit.
Ing to OutEsses-Hepe for Better
special Cable Despatch 10 THE Sun.


Special Cable Despatch 10 THE Sun.
LONDON, Sept. 25.-The Archbishop OF
Canterbury recently wrote to Prime Min
i.ter Baifour expressing the anxiety OF
churchmen over the sufferings Of the Mace
domains long reply from the Premier
is published in which he makes an EXPOSE
ton of the attitude Of the Government.
Mr.. Balfour expresses entire sympathy
with the burning sentiments Of reprobation
that have been excited in every humane
heart by the events in southeastern Europe
and declares himself in complete accord
with those who desire to take action to
mitigate the horrors. provided always,
he says, that the action shall be according
to knowledge"
Mr.. Balfour points out some Of the salient
clements OF the situation which are too
often forgotten. The case now, he says.
is not simply the too familiar one OF mis-
government and oppression by Turkish
officials OF the moro or less homogeneous
Christian population He goes on to say:
The problem in Macedonia is compli-
Gated by the fact that the Christian popu-
lation itself is rent into fragments by differ
ences of race, aggravated by differences OF
religion, and that, in addition to all the ills
inflicted by corrupt, incapable admins
tration, by i'll paid and undisciplined soldiery
and by detestable system Of taxation,
we have to reckon with all the ills which
a population not fully imbued with Western
ideas Of humanity, rival scots and rival
nationalities, do not scruple to inflict upon
one another
In discussing how such situation could
he dealt with Mr.. Balfour speaks OF the in
evitable slowness and possible Ineffective
ness OF a concert of Europe in handling
such q complex problem. He continues:
1T was surely. then, matter of con-
graduation when Russia and Austria,
acting with the authority Of Europe, pro-
posed to press on the Porte a scheme Of
reforms for the unhappy provinces.
This scheme may not have gone 90 far
az that which his Majesty's Government
would have proposed had they been tho
sole arbitsrs Of the situation. 1t may have
fallen far abort Of the Macedonian aspire
tions, a. Il certainly did Of theoretical per-
fection but it's very limitation brought II
more within the circuit Of practical politics,
and he would Be bold critic who would
confidently assert that moro would have
been got and moro quickly II moro had been
proposed
Mr.. Bahour Expresses regret that tho
Porte has not pressed the reform scheme
earnestly. II had failed, ~ usual. to ses
that the policy Of humanity was also the
policy Of wisdom, while the revolutionists
on their side seemed deliberately to Dave
done their best to drive the Turks into
taking military action. al the same time
furnishing them an excuse for deferrins
executive reforms.
This they did at the very moment when
the Intervention Of Austria and Russia
gave reasonable ground for hoping that
some remedy would be applied for the
oountrys ills. Their responsibility. adds
the Premier, is great indeed. He does not
forget. he says. the .provocation the revo-
lutionary committee had for the methods
they employed and remarks:
we have to pass judgment on men. not
angels, and II outrage Is met with outrage
and brutality with brutality we may regret.
but cannot wonder. and hardly blame.
But as I read tho history OF the last I'M
happy year the revolutionary committees
have done more than this, and worse. They
have deliberately set themselves to the
work Of violence. not for the purpose OF
repelling their opponents. but for the pur-
pose Of provoking them.
They thought, and with but too much
reason. that if Turkey were compelled in
<J1fo ;,1I l. ND oofk
excuses would assuredly be committed
which would justly excite general horror.
They have not shrunk from crimes against
the innocent in order to play upon the sym
pathies Of the world.
4 can no more believe that methods
like these are morally tolerable than can
speak without Indignation Of the mis-
government which Ia quoted as their excuse.
Between the two the very organization Of
social life is lapsing into dissolution.
Mr.. Balfour then sets forth the view that
these circumstances and considerations are
guiding the Government He says the
question raises a complicated international
problem. Neither Russia. Austria nor
Turkey can be Indifferent to territorial
redistributions In the peninsula, while
Greece, Bulgaria, Servia and Roumania
are all profoundly interested In the fate
Of a province whose Christian population
consists Of all four nationalities, and the
external complications are doubled by tho
internal ones. MIR. Baifour continues.
-Omitting the smaller elements, it may
be said that more than third OF the popu-
lation Is Mohammedan. and that Of the
remainder the two most considerable con-
stituents are Bulgarians, who in religion
are ESarchsts, constituting, / believe, the
largest group OF all. and Greeks, who in
religion are Patriarchists.
AN suffer under Turkish msrule. All
would gain immensely by the reforms,
but while the Mohammedans would be
terror-stricken at being placed under Chris
tan dominion. the Exarchist Christians
would prosecute the Patriarchist Christ ans,
often, ] fear, with much cruelty, and the
Greeks. both In and out of Greece, would
rather find protection for their race and
religion under the rule of the Sultan than
be left to fight the matter out with the
Bulgarians under scheme OF unfettered
autonomy.
Il cannot think that any man of sober
Judgment will doubt that the best hone
Of dealing with this unique problem lies
in the continued cooperation OF Austria
and Russia, strengthened by the support
and aided by the advice Of other signal cries
OF the Treaty OF Berlin. They possess.
If only in virtue OF their geographical posi-,
ton. an Incompatible influence over the
antagonistic forces by which the Balkan
peninsula is rent