The difficulty of garrisoning South Bulgaria after the departure of
the Russians appears to be nearly insuperable. It is clearly understood that the people will resist an Ottoman garrison, which would mean a reign of terror, while a "joint occupation" by the Great Powers might lead to dangerous military quarrels. A proposal has therefore been made that a force of Belgians and Swedes should be organised, under guarantees from the Powers ; but this has been rejected, and so- far as appears, when the Russians depart, the province will be given up to anarchy. Of course, the true remedy is to garrison the province with its own militia, who would then, if thoroughly armed, serve as a guarantee against the introduction of Turkish troops, in breach of the Treaty of Berlin ; but if that is rejected, we do not see why the Governor-General should not be allowed, with the consent of the authorities at Berne, to raise a Swiss Guard, like the one which so long protected the Neapolitan Throne. The advantage of that alternative is that the force would retire the moment the Swiss Government gave the order, and that the Swiss Government would act upon the general con- sensus of Europe. It is only a question of maintaining order for a year or two, till England has grown ashamed of resisting the wishes of the population, which, if left alone, would, with North- Bulgarian assistance, maintain order easily enough.
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