The optimistic telegrams in Wednesday's papers as to the decision
of the Porte have unfortunately proved premature. The Ambassadors had made considerable concessions in regard to the terms of the appointment of the Commission, which is limited to two years, the inclusion of a Turkish member in addition to the President (Hilmi Pasha), and the confirmation of the decision of the Commission by Imperial decree. It was thought that these concessions would have sufficed, but Thursday's papers announced that the Porte, emboldened no doubt by the success of his demands, had issued a fresh Note making his acceptance conditional on further changes, the most important of which is that the Macedonian military budget shall be covered by the revenues which the financial Commission is to administer, while another stipulates that in case Hilmi Pasha refuses to execute the decisions, both he and the foreign advisers shall appeal to the Porte, giving reasons for their action. The Ambassadors, it is now stated, have demurred to these further modifications, and are considering the expediency of resorting to further military demonstrations.
