NEWS OF THE WE EIS.
IT was announced on Thursday that the British Govern. ment have proposed to the Powers the appointment for a term of years of a Turkish Governor-General for Macedonia, whose position shall be analogous to that of the Governor of the Lebanon. We have always believed that the "Lebanonising " of Macedonia was by far the best solution, and we are delighted to see that Sir Edward Grey has determined to use British influence in this direction. According to a telegram from Vienna in Friday's Times, the British Note goes on to suggest that the number of Turkish troops should be decreased in order to lighten the charges upon the Macedonian Budget, and that in consideration of any such decrease Turkey should be given a guarantee of territorial integrity by the Powers. At present it looks as if the British proposal would be well received; but experience of the jealousies and suspicions of the Powers in regard to any action in the Balkans makes us somewhat sceptical. We fear that the Powers chiefly concerned will not study the proposal with a view to the peace and happi- ness of Macedonia, but will primarily consider whether the application of the Lebanon scheme will give this or that Power an improved position. An article which we publish to-day in regard to the Croatian crisis throws some light upon the sudden determination of Austria-Hungary to push the project of the Novi Bazar Railway. We cannot leave the subject of Macedonia without congratulating Sir Edward Grey upon the action he has taken. He has proved himself a cautious, and therefore necessarily a slow, Foreign Minister ; but when he does act it is with clearness and decision.
