The Washington herald., 1908-05-25
The Macedonian Reforms.

Editor The Washington Herald:
Historical Macedonia, territory OF the
Sultan. stained with human blood and
suffering from almost continuous disOF-
ders. has long attracted the attention Of
the world
Her troubles do not come from a revolt
of her inhabitants against the rule Of
Turkey, as one would imagine, but are
racial In character. and are caused by
fghting between Bulgarians and Greeks
one one hand and Bulgarians and Ser
vians on the other, the bone of cOnten-
tlon being Macedonia.
Here In a few words Is the beginning
and real cause OF her sad condition. The
Panslavistic Society. organized TO ad-
vance the interests OF Russia, has for
years urged Bulgaria 10 follow an ag-
gressive policy IN Macedonia, persuading
' her that she could acquire territory there
when the power Of the Sultan weakened
Therefore. instead Of fighting Turkey
Bulgaria has. through her secret commit
tees. sent armed bands of outlaws to
murder and terrorize especially the Greek
inhabitants Of Macedonia. Thinking 20
make the country so hot for them that
they would subjugate or emlgrate, and
give her a free hand there. Her cunning
and dangerous designs were quickly met
by the Greeks and Servlans with a stub
born resistance. so she issued a procIa-
nation to the world that she was work.
Ing for the liberation Of the Macedo-
niansl How false this statement was,
the record OF events will show.
Conditions in Macedonia eventually be-
came so bad that the great powers were
obliged 10 interfere. First however, Rus
sia and Austria stepped into the arena
This was in 1903, soon after the anarchiCal
attempts and pseudo revolutionary tactics
of Bulgaria were instituted.
These two powers, by mutual agree
ment at Mursteg Fixed upon a pro-
gramme Of reforms. by which they hoped
20 pacify the warring factions Of Mace
donia- But II seems that at that meet
ing some secret terms were agreed upon.
by which Russia and Austria were TO
divide the territory OK Macedonia between
themselves at the first opportunity.
The other powers. especially England,
suspected that agreement and protested,
more than once. that Russia and Austria
alone were not suitable agents for the
needed reforms. Because, as Il is known,
both those powers have their eyes upon
that territory. Austria desires and uses
all means to open a passage 10 the
Aegean Sea through Macedonia, and Rus
sia also hopes by thS lid OF Bulgaria TO
occupy a harbor for a Russian arsenal.
But II seems that the Russo-Japanese
war OF 1904 upset these designs.
The reform programme Of Russia and
Austria was necessarily failure: instead
80 -
Macedonia. Thousands OF Greeks. Bull
garians. Servlans. and Turks nave died
violent deaths since II was adopted. The
political agents OF Russia and Austria.
instead OF making for harmony. were
often working against the welfare OF the
inhabitants Of the troubled district. They.
were accused IN many instances OF Sc
cretly stirring up troubles and seeking TO
increase the disturbances, for thus they
expected, as mentioned TO create an on
portunity 20 occupy the country.
Conditions in Macedonia became so bad
that England, France, and Italy Ger
many holding alooD protested again and
demanded that they be allowed to help
elaborate true and effective reforms
which would quiet the country Their de-
mand was aceeded 90 and they sent 20
liticai agents and military officers to reor-
ganize the local police in Macedonia
Afterward the powers, by concerted ac-
ton. demanded Of Turkey that they be
allowed 10 undertake the inspection OF
the Macedonian finances. This was grant
ed by the porte after much difficulty.
But, IN spite OF all those efforts, the
conditions in Macedonia were nowise I'm
proved. Why?
Because some Of the European powers
have no wish for effective reforms OF a
righteous solution Of the Macedonian