An affair which threatened last week to cause an explosion
in the Near East has been happily settled. Four "Kutzo Vlachs," or Wallachs not of Wallachia, began inspecting Wallach schools in Albania. The Vali of Janina, either out of dislike for the Grand Vizier, who is friendly to Wallachs, or because he suspected them of propagating anti-Turkish ideas, arrested them, threw two of them into prison, and sent two as prisoners to Italy. King Charles of Roumania, as natural protector of all Wallachs, remonstrated with the Sultan, and finding his repre- sentations disregarded, forwarded an ultimatum. The Vali must be dismissed before May 23rd, and Kutzo Vlachs must be invested with all the privileges of other Christian communities in Turkey, or Roumania would break off all relations with Constantinople,—a step which would have led to an alliance with Bulgaria, and ultimately to war. The Sultan cannot just now appeal to Russia, but he consulted Germany, and being advised to maintain peace, he on May 22nd climbed down. An Trade was issued conceding the privileges asked for the Kutzo Vlachs, and it is under- stood the Vali of Janina will be removed, doubtless by promotion. The incident is closed ; but the determined attitude of Roumania, whose Monarch really understands the affairs of the Near East, shows a new independence of Russia, and will, as we have indicated elsewhere, increase the elements of turmoil in the Balkans. Any shot fired there may explode a powder magazine.
