23 OCTOBER 1886, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

OPINION about affairs in Bulgaria has passed through two phases this week. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, it was thought that Alexander III. was inclined to retreat from his menacing position, and to leave the Bulgarian Regency alone. It was reported that he thought the occupation of the State too expensive an undertaking, and that he would leave "those wretched Bulgarians" to "stew in their own juice." On Thursday, however, it was known that Gadban Effendi had appeared in Sofia as Commissioner of the Porte, had informed the Regents that the Porte also desired that the meeting of the Sobranje should be postponed, and bad ex- pressed his intention of consulting General Kanlbars in every- thing. It was imagined, therefore, that Russia and Turkey had come to a complete understanding, and that both would demand the resignation of the Regency, in which event there would be no authority left in Bulgaria except "Europe," which would speak through Gadban Effendi and General Kaulbars, and perhaps frame an ad interim Government in the interest of Russia. The wildest rumours were, of course, circulated at once, the smallest of them being an immediate reoccupation of East Roumelia by the Turkish Army.