19 SEPTEMBER 1908, Page 1

A diplomatic incident has threatened during the week to disturb

the relations of Turkey and Bulgaria, which had been immensely improved by the Turkish Revolution. M. Gueshoff, the Bulgarian diplomatic agent at Constantinople, received no invitation to the dinner given last week by Tewfik Pasha, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in honour of the Sultan's birth- day. On making inquiries, he was informed that there were no precedents to go upon, as previously all invitations had come from the Sultan himself. It was made clear enough, however, that be was not regarded as a member of the Diplomatic Corps, and that he would not be invited in spite of his protest. The Bulgarian Government then recalled him, holding, as the Sofia correspondent of the Times explains, that the right of their agent tc be regarded as a member of the Diplomatic Corps had been established when the Berman Emperor visited Con- stantinople, and had always been recognised subsequently. Of course, the real significance of the question is that Bulgaria sees in it a setback to Prince Ferdinand's claim to recogni- tion as an independent Sovereign. Fortunately the cordial reception of the numerous Turkish tourists who are visiting Sofia has distracted some attention from the incident. We note that M. Charles Laurent, first President of the French Cour des Comptes, has been appointed Financial Adviser to the Turkish Government, and Sir William Willc,ocks Adviser in Irrigation.