The Ambassadors of Austria and Russia presented to the Porte
on the 10th inst. a Note in which they peremptorily required submission to their proposals. They reminded the Sultan that the tendency in Europe to demand a separate Administration for Macedonia was "most pronounced," and hinted that the consequences of further delay might be most serious. It is known that Great Britain, France, and Italy supported this representation, and understood that the German Emperor advised compliance with the demands. The Porte, therefore, grew placable, but the Sultan is still refractory. He demands, it is said, the excision of the clauses which enable the Commissioners to " control " Hilmi Pasha. He will, however, it is confidently believed yield before an ultimatum. We do not believe in the least in the better government of Macedonia while the people remain at the mercy of the officials, whose object is pillage ; but we suppose the extirpation of the villages will be suspended during the winter. The Bulgarian Com- mittees will also remain passive for that time, their chief Sarafoff admitting that further action is for the present impossible; and altogether the crisis is postponed to the . spring. If by that time the " reforms " are discovered to be nugatory, the insurrections will be renewed, perhaps under more hopeful conditions, for the Sultan cannot call out his Asiatic reserves every three months. Lord Lens- dow-ne has not done all he might, but he has obtained a breathing-time for Eastern Europe.
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