New-York tribune., 1905-12-19
TIE coNrRoL OF MAcEDoNLA.

Now that the Turkish government has yielded
| to the demands of the powers in Macedonia it
is Instructive TO review briefly the story Of the
case as object lesson in Oriental methods and
| in the dealings of the powers with the Sick Man
| of Europe. 1t will be recalled that a couple of
years ago Austria and Russia. as the manda
| tories of the powers imposed upon Turkey two
schemes of Macedonian reform. Under these
Hilmi Pacha was made inspector general for the
Improvement of the general administration; two
civil agents, an Austrian and Russian, were
appointed TO control the local executives and the
gendarmerie reorganiZed. Some good was
thus accomplished, especially by HiImi and in
the gendarmerie but the root of the trouble
untouched. Disorders actually increased, and
it was caustically observed that Macedonian af-
fairs, in which the powers had interviewed. were
growing worse. while those of Adrianople, in
which they had not meddled, were materially
improving The probable cause Of this anomaly
we shall presently see.
Last January. reckoning that something more
must be DONE Austria and Russia proposed to
the Porte that new fiscal system be adopted
for Macedonia. Under this all revenues were
TO be paid into the Ottoman Bank. and be paid
out again only for purposes specified in the
Budget as approved by the Austrian and Rus
sian civil agents. who would thuS be invested
with financial control of the three yilayets. This
was ignored by the Porte. which. however. in
March announced that tile fiscal affairs of Mace
dOnia had been intrusted to the Ottoman Bank
without any contro Dy the civil agents. At the
same time the powers were asked to sanction an
increase of the Turkish tariff rate from S to II
per cent In May all the powers approved the
bank arrangement but renewed the demand for
control, not only by the two civil agents, but
also-since the others had become a trfe jeal-
GUS or suspicious of Austro- Russian monopoly
by four more financial agents. representing Great
Britain. France Germany and Italy. No reply
made to this demand and it was repeated
by the powers in June.
At last, July II, the Porte replied with a
fat refusal to grant such control. the ground
that it would be tantamount to abdication of
sovereignty by the Sultan. The powers returned
to the attack on July 81 with renewal of their
demand, and by August 24 had appointed their
agents. The Porte September l again de-
murred but ten days later the powers announced
that their agents would go to Macedonia and as
sumo control on October /. On September 30
the Porte begged that they be not sent, and de-
clared that If they were their authority would
not be recognized. On October the agents were
all in their places. and on October the powers
demanded that they be recognized and invested
with control. The Porte October 13 again re-
fused, and on October 20 protested against their
remaining in Macedonia. On October 25 the
powers renewed their demands and asked for a
collective interview of their representatives with
the Sultan. Such an audience fatty refused.
Thereupon on November 13 the representatives
of the powers reaffirmed the demand for control.
and on November 16 communicated it to the
Porte The Porte still being recalcitrant on
November % the international feet assembled
at the Pir@us. The subsequent proceedings, end
ing with the PorteS submission last week are
sufficiently fresh in mind without rehearsal
Thus the three great .viIayets of SaIonica.
Monastir and KOssOvo are practically removed
from the Ottoman sovereignty. The result is
likely to be material Improvement in some direc-
tions. That it Will be a complete ending of
Macedonian troubles cannot even hope The
cause that produced increased disorders under
the reforms Of last year will doubtless again be
operative-that is, the iealOusieS, the rivalries
and the hatreds of the various Christian factions
in that unhappy country. Greek and Rumanian
and Servian and Bulgarian are all struggling for
supremacy. and they hate and persecute one
another with ferocity surprising that of the
Turks themselves. That is the root of the
trouble. and what is TO be done about it is a
question which may well tax the best states
manship of Europe. TO give any one of the four
control Of Macedonia would mean its oppression
of the others and their revolt. To divide the
land among the four is impossible for the vari-
Gus peoples are inextricaby ntermingled. To
establish some strong. impartial, outside rule
over them, done in Bosnia and Herze-
govina. might be the best solution. But If is to
be doubted if the powers will agree thus TO turn
over TO one of their number that coveted and
strategicaly invaluable land.