The state of Macedonia was discussed in the Commons on
Tuesday. Lord Percy strongly deprecated isolated action by Great Britain in any circumstances, and urged that the only course for us to pursue was to remain in the Concert of Powers. After Mr. Masterman had eloquently complained that Lord Lansdowne's programme had not been kept in operation since the present Administration had come into power, Sir Edward Grey replied for the Government. There was, he asserted, no ground for the complaint that we had disregarded our obligations under the Treaty 4 Berlin. As a matter of fact, we had borne more than our share of the burden. Isolated or forcible action would not be effective, because it would involve us in diffi- culties of which no one could foresee the issue. The Austrian railway scheme, in so far as it might promote trade, merited our goodwill ; but if it affected the cohesion of the Concert it would impair what was the surest guarantee of peace. He felt certain that the Macedonian question could be settled if the Concert would take it seriously in hand. Personally, he strongly favoured the appointment for a term of years, with a free hand, of an irremovable Turkish Governor of capacity and character.
