NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE most important European news of the week is that Russia has proposed to the other Powers that common representations should be made to Turkey and Bulgaria depre- cating military measures on the Turco-Bulgarian frontier, or any suggestion from either country that the frontier should be rectified. This is a very welcome action, and it comes better from Russia than from any other country, as she has been in noticeable sympathy with the new movement in Turkey, and at the same time she has a traditional friendship with Bulgaria. Bulgaria has given more or less definite promises that she means to come to a peaceful arrangement with Turkey; but Europe was made anxious at the beginning of the week by the announcement that Bulgarian troops were being mobilised on the frontier. The excuse for this was that there were rumours that Turkey was about to seize some strategic positions. There is not a shadow of evidence that Turkey had any such intention, which, indeed, would be opposed to the policy she has followed for many months. There is no doubt, how- ever, that Turkey would like to secure a rectification of the frontier in lieu of part of the money compensation to be paid by Bulgaria, and a proposal in this sense has actually been made by the Porte, as stated in the Times of Friday. We can only hope that in the circumstances Turkey will not urge this demand in the face of Bulgaria's determined opposition. As matters are at present, a shot fired by a nervous sentry on the frontier might load to the open conflict which all Europe earnestly desires to avert. No exception can be taken to the wording of the proposed representation to Turkey and Bulgaria, which is admirable in sense and in manner.
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