The third reply of the Porte to Russia and Austria's
Note embodying the demands of the Powers in regard to Macedonia is summarised in Friday's Times. The chief feature of this unsatisfactory document consists in the attempt to whittle down the powers of the Austrian and Russian Civil Agents to be appointed under the new scheme, by the proviso that their subordinates are only to have interviews with the natives in the presence of a Turkish official,—ready to note all who protest upon his black-list. We know what that means : the mouths of the victims will be closed by fear of consequences. Meantime the Turkish authorities are trying to close the hospitals established by the Relief Committee, on the plea that such institutions belong to the State, and that the Sultan is the father of his people.
