„… THE BALKAN OUTLOOK.
THE MACEDONIANS AND THE REFORMS.
(fbom olb own corbespondents.)
PARIS, Arna 7.
The special correspondent of th© Petit Parisien in Bulgaria reports a conversation which be has had with the supremo chief of the Macedonian revolutionary organization, Dr. Tatartchefl. Tho latter said among other things :—
“ You tell me that we must have patience. That is what wc nave been told to do for years past. That is what the diplomatists always say. The Porto makes promises, you have only to wait till they are executed : that is
! what they tell ux. We are certainly reason-} able people and of good faith. We only want an opportunity to prove our goodwill inorder to edify European public opinion. It ɑ trial of the reforms is loyally made, the Committee of Internal Organization asks for nothing ; better than to promote them and to let it be soon what results they can produce. But if | the Turks continue to show malevolence towards ! the Macedonians, to prevent the execution of | the reforms—iu a word, to continue tho ever- ; lasting exchange of notes and negotiations ‘. with the Powers—it should be known that a . now insurrection will break out more formid-. able than those that have preceded it. Wo < are working here incessantly and quietly. ; I wo are prepared, armed, and equipped. We ‘ have numerous bands iu Macedonia living in the mountains in impregnable hiding-places. Nothing is beard of them and they will do nothing if they are not attacked. Wo will see that no bands enter Macedonia from Bulgaria for some little time. Wc do not want to give the Turks a pretext for not carrying out the reforms, but it is notas easy as the diplomatists suppose to pacify people who aro dying of hunger and distress, which is the case with the Macedonians. . . . | We do not ask to change our nationality, nor ;
do we want to be an independent State. Wc shall ɪ be satisfied to exist under tho Sultan’s sovereignty, as his loyal subjects, if the Sultan, convinced of his true interests, will give us simply local self-government—that is to say, the right to ‘ possess an Administration elected by ourselves ; and if he will keep a protectorate over our provinces that will provide him with a handsome revenue.”
VIENNA, April 7.
A despatch from Constantinople to tho semiofficial Fremdenblatt confirms the statement that M. Natchovitch intends to leave Constantinople unless the Turco-Bulgarian understanding is signed by to-morrow evening. The importance attributed to the understanding has been I exaggerated in some quarters, but it is neverthe- ɪ less probable that a complete breach between • Sofia and Constantinople would contribute to aggravate tho situation.
According to information conveyed to the Civil Agents by Hilmi Pasha, the komiiajis have lately been showing renewed activity in several parts of Macedonia aud aro being energetically pursued by the Turkish troops. At the instance of the Civil Agents, Hilmi has taken measures to prevent further excesses by the troops and has sent a Belgian gendarmerie officer to maintain order at Striunitza.
Thirty Austro-Hungarian officers have volunteered for service in the gendarmerie. Five have been chosen, and the remainder will bo retained in view of a possible increase in the number of appointments later on.
…“
