NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ANEW incident is adding to the uneasiness caused by the recent treatment of M. Guesboff, the Bulgarian diplomatic agent at Constantinople. Last Saturday's papers announced that yet another strike had broken out in Turkey, this time on the Oriental Railway. The Turkish Government took the matter firmly in hand, and the strike was ended in three days. But meanwhile the Bulgarian Government had set troops to do the work of the strikers on the line in Eastern Roumelia. When the strike was over these troops were retained. The episode made a disagreeable impression at Constantinople, as it was felt that there was no longer any need for the soldiers, and that the strike was being used as a pretext for a political demonstration. The Porte demanded the evacuation of the line, but the Bulgarian Government, after some corre- spondence, stated on Thursday that it would arrange matters with the company. This is indirectly to deny the right of the Turkish Government to control its own property, and is of course a serious position to take up. The Turkish Govern- ment shows no sign of weakening in its demand, which it has every right to make under the Berlin Treaty, as well as in its own interests and in those of the foreign shareholders. Prince Ferdinand arrived at Budapest on Wednesday, and was received by the Emperor Francis Joseph with sovereign honours. It is possible that Prince Ferdinand contemplates asserting his independence, and we may add that be is perhaps receiving some deliberate encouragement from one or more of the Powers. We discuss the matter fully else- where, and need only say here that the real interest of Europe is to see the Turkish Constitution given a fair trial, and not imperilled at this early stage by superfluous quarrels, however intelligible in themselves.
