Turkish authorities claim to have repelled an insurgent attack, and that the Exarchist Bulgarian inhabitants of Goumenja, who are reported to have acted in concert with the bands, are believed to have been severely handled. A battalion of troops on the way from Uskub to Monastir was stopped at Goumenja, on an urgent request of the authorities there for reinforcements, but has, I believe, been sent forward to its original destination. The only other recent sign of actively aggressive tactics on the part of the insurgents in this vilayet has been an attack made on the night of the 14th on a train conveying four battalions of troops from the north. An insurgent band killed or put to flight the guard at the Vardar bridge between Keuprulu and Zelenico, and then proceeded to place dynamite on the bridge before the arrival of the train. The engine-driver, not seeing the signal light of the bridge guard, stopped the train before the bridge, and the insurgents, disappointed in their attempt to destroy the train with the bridge, threw a hand bomb which struck the last truck and killed a couple of soldiers, and then retired. A large quantity of dynamite was found on the bridge. || The railway authorities expect that during the next few days, as there will be no moon, attacks on the railway line will be more frequent. || These, however, are isolated instances, and it is clear that the signal has not yet been given, as in Monastir, for the general outbreak in this vilayet. But there is abundant evidence that such a movement is in preparation, and may be expected to occur at any moment. Large bands have made their appearance, some of them within a few miles of Salonica, and it is believed that they actually meditate an armed demonstration against Salonica, probably in concert with accomplices within the city, who are said to be provided with dynamite and might create a diversion by throwing bombs in the Turkish quarter, and thus provoke reprisals and massacre. || The attention of the military authorities appears to be entirely occupied with the Monastir insurrection, to combat which the city and province of Salonica have been largely denuded of regular troops, and there is as yet no sign of the arrival of the promised reinforcements from Anatolia. || The Vali, Hassan Fehmi Pasha, continues to be active and vigilant, and shows himself calin and confident in the face of increasing difficulties. But the Mushir commanding this army corps is old, and so broken in health as to be quite unequal to the requirements of his position. R. W. Graves.

Nr. 13279. TÜRKEI. Der Botschafter in London an den eng

lischen Minister des Ausw. Protest gegen einen Bericht der „Times" über eine Metzelei in Adrianopel. Ambassade Impériale de Turquie, Londres, le 27 Août, 1903. Il est absolument faux qu'un massacre ait eu lieu à Andrinople, comme le disait le télégramme du correspondant du ,,Times" à Sophia dans le numéro de ce journal du 25 Août. journal du 25 Août. L'ordre est parfait dans la ville d'Andrinople; ce sont plusieurs villages dépendant du district de Kirk-Kilissé qui ont été saccagés et incendiés par les bandes Bulgares. Les Comités révolutionnaires ont pour système d'imputer aux troupes Ottomanes et aux Musulmans leurs propres forfaits. || Il est pénible que le gros de la presse Anglaise, qui ouvre si largement ses colonnes aux récits calomnieux propagés par les Comités Bulgares sur le compte des soldats Ottomans et des Musulmans, fasse à peine mention des crimes et des souffrances auxquels les populations Musulmane et Grecque de la Roumélie sont en butte de la part des Bulgares. Toutes les mesures militaires que comporte la situation ont été prises par le Gouvernement Impérial.

Anlage.

Extract from the Times" of August 25, 1903.

A Revolution has been proclaimed throughout the Vilayet of Adrianople. The insurgents have cut all the telegraph wires between the city of Adrianople and the eastern parts of the vilayet. | It is reported that the Turks have massacred all the women and children in twentytwo villages in the districts of Florina and Monastir, and afterwards burned the villages. They were also said to have killed a number of prisoners whom they had taken. These reports have not been officially confirmed, but little doubt is entertained here regarding their accuracy. I The streets of Kroushevo are said to be strewn with dead bodies, which the people are afraid to bury lest they should arouse the suspicions of the Turks.

Nr. 13280. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Botschafter in Petersburg an den Minister des Ausw. Graf Lamsdorf will in Sofia ernste Vorstellungen crheben.

St. Petersburgh, August 27, 1903. (August 27.) (Telegraphic.) || Yesterday I found Count Lamsdorff disposed to regard situation in Macedonia as more serious. In his opinion the Bulgarian

Government are not doing all that could be done to prevent the insurgents receiving assistance, and he thinks the time come when the strong warnings given by the Russian and Austrian Governments to Bulgaria should be seconded by the Representatives of the other Signatory Powers at Sophia.

Nr. 13281. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Minister des Ausw. an den Botschafter in Petersburg. Antwort auf das vorige. Wünscht nähere Mitteilung über die russischen Absichten.

Foreign Office, August 30, 1903. (Telegraphic.) | His Majesty's Government desire to know as soon as possible the precise meaning of the phrase "seconding the strong warnings given by the Russian and Austrian Governments to Bulgaria," which is used in Count Lamsdorff's communication conveyed in your Excellency's telegram of the 27th instant. || They have not failed to take opportunities of offering the Bulgarian Government good advice, and could repeat it once more; but the Russian Government may now mean more than this, and intend to suggest that the support of His Majesty's Government should involve a threat to join in coercive measures if the warnings are disregarded.

Staatsarchiv LXX

Nr. 13282. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Botschafter in Petersburg an den Minister des Ausw. Antwort auf das vorige.

St. Petersburgh, August 31, 1903. (August 31.)

(Telegraphic) || There was nothing in the language of Count Lamsdorff to me or to my colleagues to indicate that coercive measures were contemplated against Bulgaria, but he thinks it desirable that the representations of the other Powers Signatory of the Treaty of Berlin should, like the Austrian and Russian Representatives, make it quite clear to Bulgarian Government that the Revolutionary Committees will not be protected against the consequences of their action, which aims at forcing foreign Powers to intervene. || The impression which his language gave me was that the Austrian and Russian Ambassadors were conferring with their colleagues with regard to the situation. || Count Lamsdorff is now at Peterhof with the Emperor, who leaves to-night.

16

Nr. 13283. GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Der Minister des Ausw. an den Botschafter in Wien. Erwartet ÖsterreichUngarn Unterstützung der Vorstellungen in Sofia durch England?

Foreign Office, August 31, 1903.

(Telegraphic.) || Has your Excellency ascertained, as instructed in my telegram of the 24th instant, whether Count Goluchowski concurs in the suggestion made by Count Lamsdorff that the other Powers should second the strong warnings given by the Russian and Austrian Governments to Bulgaria? || If so, His Majesty's Government desire to know the precise meaning of the phrase, and whether it is suggested that their support should involve a threat to join in coercive measures if the warnings are disregarded.

Nr. 13284. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Botschafter in Wien an den Minister des Ausw. Antwort auf das vorige.

Vienna, September 1, 1903. (September 1.) (Telegraphic.) || With reference to your Lordship's telegram of yesterday. | Count Lamsdorff's hope that His Majesty's Government will second the strong warnings given by Austria and Russia to Bulgaria is shared by Count Goluchowski. I asked his Excellency to-day what he precisely meant, and if he intended to suggest that the support of Great Britain would involve a threat, that we should take part in coercive measures in the event of the warnings being disregarded. Count Goluchowski said that he was very anxious that His Majesty's Government should support Russia and Austria in their advice to the Bulgarian Government by using energetic language, but in the event of Bulgaria refusing to act on their good advice, he had not intended that any material responsibility should devolve on His Majesty's Government.

Nr. 13285. BULGARIEN. — Beschluß einer Versammlung von

Mazedoniern in Sofia.

Sofia, 26. August 1903.

Ce Mercredi, 13 Août dernier, les Macédo-Andrinopolitains résidant à Sophia, réunis en ,,meeting" sur la Place de Saint-Krâl: || (1.) Ayant entendu les discours de MM. Sl. Babadjanoff et André Liaptcheff; || (2.) Considérant la situation déplorable faite à leurs concitoyens; || Ont voté l'ordre du jour suivant: || 1. Ils déplorent le triste sort de leur pays natal, livré de nouveau aux exactions des Turcs, grâce aux tâtonnements

de la diplomatie Européenne, dont les intérêts restent incompréhensibles. 2. Ils expriment leur profonde reconnaissance à tous ceux qui, par la presse ou par la parole, invitent les facteurs politiques de l'Europe à réaliser en Turquie les réformes depuis si longtemps promises et prévues dans les Traités Internationaux. || 3. Ils constatent, à leur vif regret, l'indécision de la diplomatie Européenne à l'égard de la situation douloureuse des Chrétiens de Turquie dont le sort a empiré, grâce aux réformes sans consistance, telles que les dernières; loin de mettre un frein au mauvais régime Turc, ces réformes n'ont fait qu'exaspérer le fanatisme Musulman. Ils constatent en outre qu'il n'a pu et ne pourra jamais exister une administration Chrétienne sous l'autorité directe de la Turquie. || 4. Ils considèrent la nomination d'un Gouverneur-Général Chrétien et absolument indépendent de l'Administration Ottomane, et l'institution d'un contrôle Européen permanent comme des mesures préliminaires, sans lesquelles il est impossible d'améliorer la situation des Chrétiens de la Turquie ni d'y établir une Administration éclairée. || 5. Ils blâment le désaccord existant, grâce à des considérations égoïstes, parmi les Chrétiens ,,rayas" qui, également poursuivis par l'Administration Ottomane, forment un tout à l'égard du fanatisme Musulman. || 6. Ils expriment l'espoir que les États Chrétiens voisins ont fini par comprendre que les liens de fraternité ne peuvent se maintenir que par l'appui désintéressé que l'on s'accorde dans des moments d'épreuves comme ceux que traversent actuellement les Chrétiens de la Turquie. Et, dans cette pensée, ils invitent leurs frères de la Macédoine et de la Province d'Andrinople résidant en Serbie, en Roumanie, et en Grèce, à accomplir vaillamment leur devoir en prêchant la vérité dans les pays où ils se trouvent et en dissipant les soupçons, entretenus à dessein, contre la pureté et le désintéressement de la lutte. || 7. Ils invitent les citoyens de la Principauté de Bulgarie d'employer toutes leurs forces pour obtenir une amélioration du sort de leurs frères de race et de religion. || 8. Ils sont prêts à sacrifier leur bien-être et leur vie pour le succès de l'oeuvre sacrée déjà commencée. || 9. Ils autorisent leur bureau, composé de MM. V. Diamandieff, Président, A. Kazandjieff et G. Strezoff, membres, à communiquer le présent ordre du jour au Gouvernement Princier, aux Représentants Diplomatiques des Puissances Signataires du Traité de Berlin, ainsi qu'aux Représentants Diplomatiques de la Serbie et de la Roumanie. Le Bureau du „Meeting": V. Diamandieff. At. Tr. Kazandjieff. G. Strezoff.