The Times of Tuesday published the Note containing the conditions
on which the Powers are prepared to agree to the increase of three per cent. in the Turkish Customs for a period of seven years. In the first place, certain reforms are de- manded in the Turkish mining law and the administration of the Customs, ZT100,000 to be spent on the improvement of Custom-houses. The Government share in the extra Customs profits must be devoted exclusively to the financial needs of the three Macedonian vilayets, and the Customs administration is to be brought under the survey of the Public Debt officials. No further taxes are to be placed upon the clearing of imports, the foreign gendarmerie are to be given wider powers of interference in the punishment and prevention of crime, and the Government is to take steps to provide them with more recruits. It is unlikely that these conditions will be modified, as they are the minimum of British demands, and are supported by the five other signatory Powers. They represent, indeed, the maximum of guarantee which Britain has been able to obtain for a policy of doubtful wisdom to which she has been committed.
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