Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/329

 1899.] Turkey — Bulgaria — Greece. [321

of the public functionaries in Treasury bonds bearing 8 per cent, interest, and to revert to the old system of payment of tithes in kind. By this means a saving of 16,000,000 francs was effected. In October a number of supplementary elections took place which resulted in a complete victory for the partisans of M. Radoslavoff, who, although a member of the Cabinet, had become more and more pronounced in his antagonism to the Premier. The result was that the latter resigned, and Prince Ferdinand charged M. Ivantchoff, Minister of Public Instruction, and a prominent member of the Radoslavoff party, to form a new Ministry. The new Cabinet was entirely composed of followers of M. Radoslavoff, who was virtually the Premier, while retaining the much-coveted post of Minister of the Interior, with its extensive patronage and control of the elections. A noteworthy incident in Bulgarian history was the opening on November 20 of the railway between Radomiz, Sofia, Roman, Shumla, and Kasfidjan, on the Varna and Rustchuk Line. This railway traverses a fertile and thickly populated district, affording a much-needed outlet for Bulgarian agricultural produce. It connects the capital with the Danubian and Black Sea ports, and will ultimately be the direct route to Salonica and the JEgean.

In February a general election took place in Greece, the result of which was the complete defeat of the Deliyannis party, as a consequence of its mismanagement of the war, and a large majority for the Tricoupis party. In April the Ministry resigned and M. Theotokis, the leader of the Tncoupists, was appointed Premier. The new Cabinet proceeded at once to reorganise the naval and military services, and it obtained the sanction of Parliament for appointing foreign instructors for that purpose. In order to check as much as possible the abuses of the civil administration, a Supreme Council was also appointed to con- trol the civil service generally, and all appointments, promotions and retirements. In Crete the National Assembly passed the draft constitution which had been framed by the commission appointed for that purpose, and Prince George's performance of his duties as High Commissioner seems to have given universal satisfaction. The following were the principal features of the new constitution : Crete is placed under an autonomous Govern- ment in conformity with the decision of the Four Powers. The defence of the country and the maintenance of public order are entrusted to the gendarmery and the Municipal Guard. Service in the latter is compulsory. All religious oeliefs are equally recognised and protected by law. The official language is Greek. Public appointments are open to all Cretans, in so far as their individual capacity and moral character are satisfactory. The executive power is vested in Prince George, assisted by respons- ible Councillors. The Chamber will consist of deputies elected by the inhabitants, in addition to ten selected by Prince George, and will be convoked every two years. During the first two

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