The Tupelo journal., 1903-10-02
APPARENT APATHY
OF THE POWERS
Premier Balfour Discusses the Mace
DOMAIN Situation.
ANALYSIS OF THE TROUBLE
MIR. Bnlf0ur Understands the Situa-
ton and Outlines the Causes of
Atrocities Which Have Been
Perpetrated in Macedonia.


Perpetrated in Macedonia.
London, Sept 2G-Premier Balfour,
In lengthy letter to the archbishop
OF Canterbury, DR.. Davidson, discusses
the Macedonian situation. The letter
is reply to the archbishop's action
in drawing attention to the growing
uneasiness among churchmen at the
apparent apathy of the powers, while
unspeakable atrocities are perpetrated
in Macedonia"
Mr.. Balfour says he is 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-
ton which recent events justified. Mr..
Balfour then proceeds to analyze the
situation. He says:
Mr.. BaIfOur ON the Situation.
1--WE have not to deal with a. sim
pie misgovernment Or oppression by
Turkish officials, but with problem
complicated by the fact that the Chris
tian population of Macedonia is rent
in fragments by differences of race, ag-
gravated by differences of religion, and
in addition to the ills inflicted by q
corrupt and incapable administration
and by an ill-paid and undisciplined
soldiery and by detestable system OF
taxation, we have to reckon with all
the ills which in a population not i'm
bued with western ideas of humanity
rival nationalities and sects do not
scruple to inflict on one another.
THE instrument whereby the stu
alton may be dealt with is the con-
cert of Europe, but this, even, were
they all in harmony, is necessarily
slow and may easily be ineffective il
the problem is complex.
DiIntOry 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, if more earnestly
pressed by the porte and more frankly
accepted by the Macedonian popula-
| ton, have spared the world the hor-
rors it has since witnessed. Neither
| of these conditions was fulfilled. The
porte, as usual, was dilatory and failed
| to see that a policy of humanity was
| a policy of wisdom. The revOlutiOnists
| have deliberately done their best tC
drive the Turks to excuses, and fur
nish him with an excuse for deferring
| the 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
Such methods as these are no more
mortally tolerable than the misgovern-
ment which is their excuse"
Mohamme.lans 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 a ter
ritorial redistribution in the peninsula
while Greece, Bulgaria, Servia and
Roumania are all interested in the fate
of the province whose Christian popu-
lation is made up from all their ma
tionalities These external compiled
tons are doubled by internal ones, be-
cause of religious differences, the Mo-
hammedans fearing Christian rule
while the exarchists and Christians
prosecute 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.
| ct is with a problem such as this
that one has to DEAL" says Mr.. Balfour
land l can not but believe that the
best hope of dealing with it lies in the
continued cooperation of Russia and
| Austria, strengthened with the support
and aided by the advice of the Other
signatories of the treaty of Berlin"
"These countries possess" Mr.. Balfoul
asserts. incompatible influence ovel
| the antagonistic forces in the PENN
sula In fact, no other nation OF
group OF nations could do it at all Il
Russia and Austria were hostile
| But it would be folly to forget thai
there are occasions when two powers
are stronger than three, and that al
addition to the numbers carries di.
minution of efficiency.
These principles" concludes Mr.. Bal
four, direct the policy of the British
government in the near east and ht
has no doubt that they are in accord
ance with British interests, and il
| obedience to them lies the best hope
of improving the condition of the Ma
cedonians and the security of Euro
pean peace"