The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-10-03
APPARENT APATHY
OF THE POWERS
Premier Balfour Discusses the Mace
donian Situation.
ANALYSIS OF THE TROUBLE
Dir. naIfour Understands the situa-
tion and Outlines the Causes of
Atrocities which Have neen
Perpetrated An Macedonia.

Perpetrated in Macedonia.
London, Sept 26.--Premier Balfour,
In a lengthy letter to the archbishop
of Canterbury. DIR. Davidson. discusses
the Macedonian situation. The letter
is reply to the archbishops action
In drawing attention to the growing
uneasiness among ohurchmen at the
apparent apathy of the powers, while
unspeakable atrocities are perpetrated
In Macedonia"
Mr.. Balfour says he Ia In entire sym
pathy with the feelings of horror and
indignation and fully understands the
desire to give expression in public
meeting to the sentiment of reproba.
tion which recent events justified. Mr..
Balfour then proceeds to analyze the
situation. lie says:
MIR. DnIfour ON the situation.
I'VE have not TO deal with sim
pie misgoyernment or oppression by
Turkish officials. but with problem
complicated by the fact that the Chris
| tlan population of Macedonia Is rent
In fragments by differences of race. ag-
grayated by differences of religion, and
! In addition to the Ills inflicted Ivy a
corrupt and incapable administration,
| and by an ill-paid and undisciplined
soldiery and by detestable system oil
taxation. we have to reckon with all
the ills which In population not inn
| bued with western ideas of humanity,
rival natlonalities and seets do not
scrnple TO lnflict ON one another.
The instrument whereby the situ-
alton may be dealt with Is the con-
cert of Europe. but this, even, we're
they all In harmony, is necessarily
slow and may easily be Ineffective IL
the problem is complex.
DiIatory Methods of the Porte.
at was a 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
politics and would, II more earnestly
pressed by the porte and more frankly
accepted by the Macedonian popula-
iiun, have spared the world the hor'
rors II has since witnessed. Neither
of these conditions was fulfilled. The
porte, as usual, was dIlatory and failed
TO see that a policy of humanity wal
policy of wisdom The revolutionlsts
have deliberately done their best to
drive the Turks 10 excesses, and fur
| nish him with an excuse for deferrlng
tho execution Of reforms, meeting hor-
rors with horrors and brutality with
brutality for the deliberate purpose OF
driving the Turk to crimes against the
| innocent and thus play upon the sym
| pathies OF the world
"Sueh methods as these are no more
mortaliy tolerabie than the mlsgoyern-
ment which is their excuse"
uohammedans Fear Christian Rule.
Coming TO the question Of the atti-
tude OF Great Britain, Mr.. Balfour
points out that Russia, Austria and
| Turkey can not be Indifferent to ter
ritorlal redistribution in the peninsula,
while Greece, Bulgaria, Seryia and
Roumania are all interested IN the rate
of the province whose Christian popu-
latlon is made up from all their ma
tjonaIlties. These external complica-
tions are doubled by internal ones, be-
carse Of religious differences, the Nc
! hammedans fearing Christian rule,
| while the exarchists and Christians
persecute the patriarchists. The Greeks
who are patrIarchists, would sooner
| find protection under the rule OF the
| sultan than to be left to fight the mat
ter out with the Bulgarians, who are
exarchists.
influence of Russia and Austria.
"It is with a problem such as thii
that one has to deal" says Mr.. Balfour
"and / can not but believe that tn
best hope OF dealing with II lies in tn
continued cooperation of Russia an
Austria. strengthened with the supper
and aided by the advice Of the othe
signatories of the treaty Of Berlin"
These countries possess" Mr.. Balfou
asserts, Incompatible influence owe
the antagonistic forces In the PENN
sula. In fact, no other nation O
gronp of nations could do 1t at all
J Russia and Austria were hostile
"But IL would be folly to forget tha
: there are occasions when two power
are stronger than three, and that a.
} addition to the numbers carries al
] minution Of efficiency.
} "These principles. concludes Mr. Bal
four. direct the policy OF the Britisf
} government in the near east and h'
has no doubt that they are In accord
ance with British interests, and II
, obedience TO them lies the best hope
M ,mproying the condition of the Ma
cedonians and the security Of Euro
pean peace"