The Russian Government, which is anxious for peace, is steadily
co-operating with the German and Austrian Govern- ments in repressing any movement for the union of Eastern Roumelia with Bulgaria. So fixed is this decision, that even Bulgarians have given way, and the Liberal Committees in Sophia have warned the Associations in Philippopolis that they must wait. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Office appears inflexible in its decision that Aleko Pasha, whose time has expired, shall not be reappointed. They recommend as his successor his principal adviser, M. Christovich, Secretary- General of .the Province; and as he has been accepted by the Porte, and is not disliked by the Western Powers, his nomination is nearly certain. The change is not important to Europe, but it is the snpersession of a Greek who has succeeded, by a Slav- who has yet to be tried in the supreme position. The local feeling appears to be that change is in itself good, as tending to avert the development of Eastern Ronmelia into a separate- Principality. The Province desires, when the hour of opportunity arrives, to resume its natural position as an integral division of Bulgaria, which, but for Lord Beaconsfield's foolish opposition to the Treaty of San Stefano, it would already be.
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