On Tuesday Count Berchtold and Herr von Bethmann. Hollweg, after
their meeting at Buchlau, announced that they had discussed all the questions of the moment, particularly those of the Near East. But the exact nature of Count Berchtold's proposal for " helping " Turkey to apply a policy of "progressive decentralization" has not yet been disclosed. Bulgaria (where the war fever still runs high owing to frontier affrays, the memory of recent massacres, and the rumours of new ones) has appealed to the Powers to put into effect Article 23 of the Treaty of Berlin and to apply a real measure of autonomy in Macedonia. Bulgaria, in fact, asks for more than Austria-Hungary has yet suggested. The Balkan situation is as confusing as ever it was. Ameliorations are only temporary. The fundamental difficulties remain. We have discussed the whole question elsewhere. Meanwhile we are glad to be able to say on the credit side of the situa- tion that the rumours of peace between Turkey and Italy become continually more definite. A " formula " proposed by the Turkish delegates is evidently being seriously considered by the Italian Government.
