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The Review of Reviews. 



sure that not only Macedonia but the 

 entire empire of Alexander and Philip 

 should be Greek. Then there are 

 religious differences without number. 

 The Great Powers would soon see the 

 impossibility of reconciling all the 

 views, and would have to admit that, 

 for the moment at any rate, Turkey, 

 supported by disinterested help, must 

 take the question of reforms in hand. 

 To attempt any other solution would 

 be suicidal. Nor is there any doubt 

 that it is recognised by Turkish states- 

 men that reforms must come, and that 

 it is in the best interests of Turkey 

 that they come quickly. But Mace- 

 donia is a hard nut to crack. During 

 the time of Abdul Hamid it was made 

 the happy, or rather unhappy, hunting 

 ground of bands of Bulgarians and 

 Servians and Greeks, all more or less in 

 touch indirectly with the Governments 

 of Sofia, Belgrade and Athens. Now 

 the Macedonian population has an 

 incurable " band habit " which is not 

 conducive to reforms. But with 

 patience and time this will give way 

 to treatment, especially if the case be 

 put into the hands of experienced 

 English administrators. We find it 

 difficult enough to stop cattle-driving 

 in Ireland to be able to appreciate the 

 difficulties Turkey has to contend with 

 in stopping man-driving in Macedonia. 



It is foolish to attempt 

 The Foes of to Uphold the argument 

 that the desire of the 

 neighbouring Balkan 

 States to intervene, or rather to interfere, 

 at the present moment was because 

 of a pure-souled wish to better things in 

 Macedonia. Reform in European 

 Turkey must be welcomed by these 



Islam : 

 Interested States. 



States, but at the same time real reform 

 spells ruin to the most cherished ideals 

 of the Servians and Bulgarians. And 

 that is where the immediate danger 

 lies — when there is every chance of 

 these being gone for ever, the tempta- 

 tion to cast all on a single throw is 

 tremendous. Servia may go to war 

 and " chance it " rather than see her 

 hopes of a sea outlet go for ever. In 

 justice to Servia, we must say that we 

 sympathise with her position, far more 

 than we do with that of Bulgaria. 

 Servia has always had to fight for her 

 existence, and has had her right of 

 independence tested by fire. She began 

 the Crimean War and the Russo- 

 Turkish War. She may begin another 

 war, but it would be a mistake, since 

 it is no longer so easy to count upon 

 European complications. If Bulgaria 

 goes to war, it will be with the hope of 

 European intervention after a few days 

 or weeks. This gambling with interven- 

 tion is not to be encouraged, or else 

 there will never be certainty of peace. 



Happily the Great 



The Policeman of Powers have on the 



the Near East, spot a vcry reliable and 



adequate policeman in 

 Roumania, whose geographical position, 

 as much as her fixed policy, makes her 

 admirably suited to maintain peace 

 and order. Thanks to the admirable 

 sovereignship and clear-headed policy of 

 King Charles, Roumania is not only in 

 a position to impose her desires, but 

 has also earned an enviable reputation 

 for peaceful and sane ideals. To-do 3- 

 it is no exaggeration to say that 

 Roumania holds the scales of peace 

 and war. No move can be made by 

 Bulgaria against Turkey unless Sofia 



