Austrians, who, in the Winter of 1915-16, over-ran the country. Italy also, as long as the reign of King Constantine lasted, kept the Greeks, who were in possession of Southern Albania, in order. Italy moreover proclaimed the independence of Albania under her protection. Her first favorite as Provisional President was Essad Pasha, but owing to his unpopularity he was never formally recognized. She then favored Prenk Bib Doda, the Chief of the Roman Catholic Clan of Mirdites, of Northern Albania. This gave great offense to all factions of the Moslem clans, and on March 25 Prenk, who had become Vice President of the new Provisional Government established at Durazzo, was murdered between that city and Medua, it was alleged by adherents of Essad Pasha.

The murder was followed by a revolt against the Italian army of occupation, which by April 29 had assumed formidable proportions with a force of 4,000 rebels in the field, all armed followers of Essad Pasha, who is also opposed to the Albanian delegates at Paris.

A pe

One petition to arrive at the Paris Peace Conference came from these rebels, who are principally Moslems of the south. Another came from the Mirdites of the north; while still another came from the Albanians abroad, demanding absolute independence and the calling of a national assembly to determine the form of government. tition also was received, dispatched from Koritza, asking for the union of the southern part of Albania with Greece. This was the outcome of a celebration there on April 29, when it was announced that the Dodecanesus Islands in the Aegean Sea, which had been held in pawn by Italy since the Turco-Italian war of 1911-12, had proclaimed their union with Greece.

Since then fifty-two petitions from the south have expressed a contrary wishnot only from Koritza itself, which is in the old Turkish vilayet of Monastir, divided between Serbia and Greece after the second Balkan war of 1913, but from Colonia, Premeti, Argyrocastro, Delvino, and Tchameria, stating:

We, the Orthodox Albanians of [the above districts] protest with indignation

against the pretensions of the [Greek] Prime Minister Venizelos that the Christian Albanians of North and South Epirus wish for union with Greece. All the Christian Albanians desire an independent Albanian State, and our delegates to the Peace Conference are the official delegates of the Provisional Albanian Government at Durazzo.

A separate petition unanimously passed by the Holy Council of the Orthodox Albanian Church in America is even more strongly worded. It is signed by the clergy, the Albanian Bishop, and a large number of laymen and reads:

We, Christian Orthodox Albanians, faithful followers of the Church of Christ, appeal through your Excellency [President Wilson] to the Peace Conference for the restoration of Albanian independence and for unification of all Albanians, Orthodox, Moslem, and Catholic, under one flag, the illustrious banner of George Castriola Scanderbeg, and one National Government.

BELGIUM

By May 13 Belgium had demobilized 115,000 men of her army, leaving 210,000 men still under arms. The reduction to 100,000 men depends upon the rehabilitation of the country's industries.

Belgium is the first of the Allies to attempt to raise money on German indemnities as security. On May 6 the Government decided to ask the Allies or the United States for an immediate loan of $500,000,000 on such security. It has been pointed out that it would not suffice for the country to receive a priority indemnity of half a billion which would not be forthcoming for a couple of years. In the first week in May there were 750,000 idle persons in Belgium, to whom the Government was paying $10,000,000 a month.

Whatever the Government considered to be the prospects of the loan, Premier Delacroix said in a Cabinet meeting, on May 11:

A drastic retrenchment is made necessary on account of the peace terms. Aside from the $500,000,000 granted Belgium as a priority payment, she will receive nothing at present, and as the country is without resources of its own and foreign loans are obtainable only on onerous terms it will be necessary to cut expenses all around immediately.

The thirtieth annual conference of the

Belgium, although absent at Berne, must retain her place in the Internationale. You do not care to meet the

Germans. That is understood. But you must meet and fight Bolshevism, which is the negation of Socialism. Lenin has excommunicated the Belgian Socialists as traitors. It is not Germans alone that you will meet at Lucerne, but thirty Socialist parties. It is your duty to go there and say what the Socialists of Belgium have suffered.

Anseele said no Internationale was possible unless, as formerly, it sat at Brussels under the Presidency of Vandervelde. The conference then passed a resolution that Brussels should remain the seat of the Bureau of the Internationale.

BULGARIA

Although reports came from Berlin during the last days of April and the first days of May telling of impending revolutions in Bulgaria and of a revolt against the Coburg dynasty, while from Moscow came news of a rising of the workers in favor of a Soviet Government, advices direct from Sofia contained no tidings of this character. The country suffered less than any other directly engaged in the war; indeed, the war was a profitable undertaking for Bulgaria; its period of neutrality as the clearing house between Germany and AustriaHungary and Turkey caused great wealth to flow in, and it surrendered before the people began to feel the economic sacrifices which the war demanded from other nations.

A propaganda was conducted by such papers as the Echo of Bulgaria, the Mir, Narod, &c., to show its innocence in the second Balkan war of 1913, and how Serbia and Greece had deprived it of its just fruits of the preceding war against Turkey. The Government followed with a propaganda concerning the future by asserting its claims to Macedonia and to Dobrudja, the former of which was

divided between Serbia and Greece in 1913, and the latter ceded to Rumania in the same year and, in the Autumn of 1916, confirmed by the Entente.

While the principal claim to Macedonia has been advanced on the ground of the self-determination of the present population, that to Dobrudja is sustained by other means based chiefly on the alleged cruelty of Rumania during its three years' occupation of the province, whose population, it is admitted, is chiefly Moslem in religion, although Bulgar from an ethnic point of view. The Royal Court Printing Office at Sofia has recently issued in English a couple of brochures, the first by Milan G. Marcoff, entitled "The Political Fate of Dobrudja After the Berlin Congress," entirely historical, and the second dealing with the present claims of Bulgaria to the province, entitled "Memoir from the Central National Council of Dobrudja to the Representatives of the States Called Together to Restore the Peace Among Nations." This last contains a number of resolutions by Dobrudjan political, industrial, and social bodies adopted during the Bulgar period of occupation, from the Winter of 1916 until the capitulation of Bulgaria, while its general tone may be judged from the following passages:

The Rumanian rule was to us a symbol of lawlessness, arbitrariness, and oppression. In future it will be the source of new wrongs and a cause for new commotions and conflicts within the Balkans-conflicts which most assuredly will transform our native land into a theatre of new desolations, ravages, and miseries. *

*

We, the people of Dobrudja, without any distinction or nationality, insistently demand that we remain within the bounds of Bulgaria, because in the Bulgarian rule we see indisputable guarantees in regard to our civic and political rights of equality, as well as a possibility to determine the mode of government without any outside interference; under Bulgarian domination we believe that we will find all the necessary conditions for an undisturbed economic and educational growth.

Another publication issued under the same auspices at Sofia is Le Mouvement Dobroujain, an eight-page bi-monthly paper, printed in French. The material employed is both historical and bibliographical, political and ethnical. The

latest number to reach America, dated April 1, gives a circumstantial account of the elections of March 14, in which it is alleged the Rumanian Government employed coercive and restrictive methods so that it might present the result of the vote as a plebiscite to the Paris Conference demanding union with Rumania.

CHINA

The Chinese Cabinet resigned May 16, but the President refused to accept the resignation. Representatives of Northern and Southern China in session for several months to endeavor to reach an agreement on the constitutionality of the Parliament at Peking, which was under control of the Northern Government, failed to reach a compromise, and the conference was ended on May 16.

A consortium or joint loan agreement for financing Chinese loans was effected at Paris, May 12, by American, French, British, and Japanese bankers. A reservation was made for later participation by Belgian bankers. Thomas W. Lamont of the United States (a member of J. P. Morgan & Co.) presided at the meeting. Others who attended were Sir Charles S. Addis of Great Britain, M. Simon of France, and Mr. Adagiri of Japan. The general agreement provided that, at the suggestion of the United States and with the sanction of the French, British, and Japanese Governments, the banking groups will combine their interests to make joint financial, administrative, and industrial loans to the Chinese Government.

DENMARK

The Government of Denmark, in regard to territorial expansion, presents a curious contrast to other nations which are striving to extend their dominions. On May 12 the Danish Parliament adopted the following resolution by a large majority:

While the Danish Parliament expresses its satisfaction at the prospect that the coming peace will bring the fulfillment of the national hopes of the Danish people, it insists on its resolution of Oct. 23, 1918, and on the wishes expressed toward the allied and associated powers in Paris with regard to the voting

zone in Schleswig by the parliamentary declaration representing all parties and by the representatives of the Danish Electors' Association in Schleswig.

This somewhat enigmatical resolution is explained by the Danish press as follows: Provision has been made by the Peace Conference for righting the wrong done Denmark by Prussia nearly threequarters of a century ago in seizing the territory of Schleswig-Holstein. The territory is to be divided into three separate zones, northern, middle, and southern, which at the end of successive periods shall declare their nationality by a plebiscite. It is pointed out

that although the northern zone, which will vote first, is thoroughly Danish in language as well as in sentiment, the middle and southern zones have become thoroughly Germanized. Here the population would also vote to adhere to Denmark in order to escape German taxation, and Denmark would thereby have as a portion of her population a people not bound by ties of patriotism, but by expendiency; this the Danish Government does not desire. What it does desire is that the southern boundary shall be extended to the Firth-TondernFlensburg line, so as to incorporate in the kingdom only about 1,000 square miles.

At the same time the Germanized Danes of the middle zone are making the most of their opportunity. During the first part of May various delegations and representatives from Flensburg and the country districts south visited Copenhagen in order to sound politicians and business circles concerning the conditions under eventual Danish rule.

EGYPT

The political revolt of the Egyptian Nationalists had subsided by the third week in April only to be followed by a general strike, which brought about fresh disturbances and changes in the personnel of the Sultan's Government, notably the resignation of Hussein Rushdi Pasha, President of the Council, on April 23. The day before the American diplomatic agent had communicated to General Allenby President Wilson's recognition of the British protectorate, also

expressing hopes for the realization of the autonomous aspirations of the people. This document was praised by the Nationalist press.

The same method which had served General Allenby, partly drastic and partly persuasive, in putting down the political revolt also served him in putting down the strike. In a proclamation issued on April 22 he demanded that all Government employes who were absent without leave return to their duties or be punished and warned: "Every person who, by persuasion, threats, or violence, prevents, or seeks to prevent, any person from complying with this order will be liable to arrest and prosecution before a military court." Other passages of the proclamation read:

Whereas, the proclamation of Nov. 2, 1914, declared the institution of martial law in Egypt in order to supplement, not to supersede, the civil administration, and all civil officials in the service of the Egyptian Government were required to continue in the punctual discharge of their respective duties;

And, whereas, a number of the officials employed have deserted their posts, and it has been made clear that they have taken this action with the object of dictating a course of policy to the Government and the Sultan, and of repudiating the Protectorate which his Majesty's Government have established over Egypt; Whereas, such officials and employes have for the most part refused to return to work when called on by the President of the Council of Ministers;

Whereas, also, any official or employe wilfully absenting himself from his work in the above circumstances is committing an offense after the above proclamation, and any person promoting or leading this movement or preventing officials or employes by threats or violence from doing their work is liable to severe penalties under martial law;

And, whereas, the time has now come for the intervention of the military authorities in this matter to support the civil administration, by virtue of the powers conferred on me as General Officer Commanding in Chief His Majesty's forces in Egypt I order all Government officials and employes absent from duty without leave to return to their posts forthwith, and punctually and efficiently to perform the duties assigned to them.

The effect of this proclamation was salutary. The civil officials returned to their duties.

FRANCE

M. Cels, the French Under Secretary for Public Works and Transports, announced on May 1 that he was preparing a bill which would provide for the utilization of water power in France by absorbing all private undertakings into one combination. The greater part of the power thus obtained would be allotted for the electrification of the main railway systems of the country. The electrification of the Midi had, by May 1, already been begun, the water power of the Pyrenees being brought into use. For the Paris-Lyons-Mediterranean railway the power will be found in the Alps. The bill has also in view the improvement of lighting, street car traction, and a system of pumping for feeding agricultural irrigation and local industries.

There was general cessation of all work in Paris on May 1 by labor organizations under socialistic direction. Enormous crowds assembled, but serious disorders were prevented by troops. As a protest against the firm action of the Government in suppressing disorderly demonstrations several Socialist Under Secretaries attached to the Peace Conference resigned. The Chamber of Deputies sustained the Government by an overwhelming majority.

On April 23 the Senate passed the Eight Hour bill. As it had already been passed by the Chamber it became a law.

It was announced in Paris on May 14 that during the month of April the sum of 681,225,900 francs was collected in France from taxes and State monopolies, this being an excess of 137,792,000 francs over the budget estimate and an increase of 278,600,200 francs over the corresponding month of 1918. This brings the excess over the budget estimate for the first four months of 1919 to 640,958,000 francs, and the increase over the first four months of 1918 to 741,164,600 francs.

GREECE

On April 18 M. Coundouriotis, the Greek Minister accredited at Belgrade to the Prince Regent of the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, (Jugoslavia,) informed the Government at Athens that he had concluded a treaty of

alliance with the new State of Jugoslavia, the terms of which would be published, in accordance with the new custom, as soon as they had been confirmed by the Parliaments interested.

In commenting upon this intelligence the Journal of the Hellenes refers to the old Graeco-Serbian treaty of 1913, which King Constantine repudiated in 1915, leaving Serbia open to the attack of the Bulgars, the Austrians, and the Germans, and adds:

This new alliance emphasizes in the most solemn manner that our glorious allies, the Serbs, realize, as does the rest of the world, that the transitory backsliding of Greece was the criminal work of a cynical camarilla of which the Hellenic people themselves were the first victims.

Having the same interests, the same enemies, and united by common sufferings and a common glory, Serbs and Hellenes will seal by this new treaty a sincere and lasting friendship, capable of meeting and overcoming all obstacles. Let us salute with enthusiasm and confidence the dawn of Graeco-Serbian cooperation, which is rising, and let us hope that the civilizing bonu which henceforth binds Great Greece and young Jugoslavia, in the Near East may never be severed.

Greece received the mandate from the Council of the Allied and Associated Powers to administer the City of Smyrna. On May 14 Greek forces landed there, followed on the 16th by a naval concentration of British, French, and Italian warships; the United States was represented by the battleship Arizona and four destroyers. Late in March the Athens press had published a communiqué from Premier Venizelos, dated Paris, to the effect that the Council of Ten had authorized him to dispatch troops to the Smyrna region to the number of 50,000.

Ever since the armistice two factions have been at work in Smyrna attempting to organize a plebiscitum: one for union with Greece by Greek agents, the other for a British protectorate by the British Chamber of Commerce at Smyrna.

At Adalia, the Attaleia of classical geography, the Italians landed troops on March 26 in order to restore peace, for on March 6 about 200 civil prisoners, having killed their guards, escaped from

prison and attacked citizens, robbing and murdering them. On April 14 British marines were landed at a point opposite Rhodes, between the Greek and Italian zones. It was stated that the military and naval precautions were taken against the possibility of rioting by the Turks when the peace conditions were imposed on them.

INDIA

The disorders which broke out in India in the second week in April-at Lahore, the capital of the Punjab; at Amritsar, the religious metropolis of the Sikha; at Ahmedabad, one of the principal towns of the Province of Bombay, and in hundreds of villages-had been entirely quelled by the first of May, principally by the native police, whose loyalty saved the lives of hundreds of Europeans.

The demonstration was organized by M. K. Gandhi, but with no intention, he has stated, of its assuming the proportions of a rebellion, against the Rowlatt bills, dealing with conspiracy. Several members of the Viceroy's Council had already resigned as a protest against the bills.

The Times of India of April 18 says that no one connects Mr. Gandhi or the nominal leader of the passive resistance movement with the outrages, although their speeches prepared the field, and suggests that an external organization is working, through the Indian revolutionary party.

Before the arrival of the troops at the principal centres of disorder over one hundred natives, including policemen, had been killed and five Europeans, and thousands of dollars worth of Government property destroyed, principally at Ahmedabad. The railway damage, done to obstruct the movement of troops, amounted to $500,000.

Justice, principally at Lahore, was meted out at once to the leaders. Fourteen have been sentenced to various terms, from transportation for life to a few weeks' imprisonment. Several villages have been fined because their authorities did not take sufficiently active measures to keep the peace.

Gandhi, the leader of the movement,