The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-09-26
A FREE HAND FOR TURKEY
Continued from First Page.)

horror and Indignation. and fully UNI
Ederstands the desire to give expression
in public meeting to the sentiment of
reprobation which recent events have
justified. Mr.. Balfour then proceeds to
Ianalyze the situation. He says:
I'VE have not now to deal with a
simple case of disagreement and of
oppression by Turkish officials, but with
a problem complicated by the fact that
the Christian population of Macedonia
is rent in fragments by differences of
race, aggravated by differences of re-
ligion, and, in addition to the ills in
flicted by corrupt and incapable adj
ministration and by an ill-paid and I'M
disciplined soldiery and by a detestable
system of taxationf we have to, reckon
with all the ills which in a population
not imbued with western ideas of hu-
manity, rival nationalities and sects do
| no scrupie to fnflict on one another"
/ Mr.. Balfour adds: 1.-THE instrument
whereby the situation may be dealt
with is the concert of Europe. But this,
even were they all In harmony, is nee
lessarily slow and may easily be ineffec+
| tive if the problem is complex.
"It was matter of congratulation
when Russia and Austria, acting with
the authority of Europe, proposed to
press the scheme of reforms which,
while lacking in theoretical perfection,
came within the circuit of practical pol
litics and would, if more earnestly press
| ed by the porte and more frankly ac-
lcepted by the Macedonian population,
have spared the world the horrors 1t
| has since witnessed. Neither of these
conditions were fulfilled. The porte, as
usual, was dilasory and failed to see
that a policy of humanity was policy
| of wisdom. The revolutionists have de-
iliberately done their best to drive the
Turk to excuses and furnish him with
an excuse for deferring the execution of
reforms, meeting horrors with horrors
and brutality with brutality, for the de-
iherate purpose of driving the Turk
to crimes against the innocent, and thus
play upon the sympathies Of the world.
such methods as these are no more
morally tolerable than the misgovern-
ment which is their excuse"
| Coming to the question of the atti-
Itude Of Great Britain. Mr.. Balfour
points out that Russia, Austria and
Turkey cannot be Indifferent to a. terri
torial redistribution in the peninsula,
while Greece, Bulgaria, Servia, and
Roumania are all interested in the fate
lof the province whose Christian popula-
ton is made up from all the rationale
ties. These external complications are
doubled by, internal ones, because re-
lIigious differences. the Mohammedans
Hearing Christian rule while the exarch-
lists and Christians prosecute the patri-
larchists. The Greeks. who are patri-
Iarchists would sooner find protection
under the rule Of the sultan than be
lest to fight the matter out with the
BuIgarians, who are exarchists.
| 1T is with problem such as this that
lone has to DEAL" says Mr.. Balfour, land
II cannot but believe that the best hope
of dealing with it lies in the continued
Incorporation Of Russia and Austria,
strengthened with the support and aid
ed by the advice Of the other signato-
ries of the treaty Of Berlin
i These countries possess, Mr.. Balfour
|asserts, Incompatible influence over the
/ antagonistic forces in the peninsula.
/ In fact, no other nation or group of
nations could do it at all if Russia and
| Austria were hostile. Great Britain was
/ not precluded by the policy outlined
from offering suggestions, which had
already been done and she will continue
/ to do SO. But, it would be folly to for
get that there are occasions when the
powers are stronger than three, and
| that an addition to the number carries
| a dininution oe efficiency.
| These principles, concludes Mr.. Bal
four. direct the policy of the British
government in the Near East and he
has no doubt that they are in accord
ance with British interests and in obed-
fence to them lies the best hope Of
improving the condition of the Macedo-
mans and the security of European
peace. ,