There is little new to be said about the dispute
between Austria and Russia over the Novi Bazar Railway project. It is, however, becoming more and more evident that the real difficulty is not the railway, but the wide differ- ences in aspiration and general policy entertained by the two Powers. British policy is clear, though very difficult. In the first place, we must strive to remain on friendly terms both with Russia and Austria, and, if possible, to reconcile them. Next, and equally important, is the duty imposed upon us of seeing that the unfortunate inhabitants of Macedonia do not suffer owing to the friction between St. Petersburg and Vienna. This task is not made easier by the fact that a good many of the people concerned with the Macedonian troubles would rather see Macedonia's agony prolonged than a settle- ment reached which they would regard as injurious to their national claims and ambitions.
