Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.
Constantinople, October 29, 1903.
Sir: The revolutionary movement in Macedonia continues, but the attacks by the bands have become less frequent and of less magnitude. Occasional conflicts between the troops and the bands occur, and dynamite outrages are not infrequent.
Mr. Lazarro, our consular agent at Salonica, has just wired that an attempt was made last night to blow up the European mail on the line between Salonica and Uskub, but fortunately no one was killed, although considerable damage was done to the line.
The European powers have presented an enlarged scheme for reforms, which for the moment has had a decided tendency to check the revolutionary movement, but unless modified considerably it will be seriously objected to by the Ottoman Government, as an acceptance would practically mean the entering wedge for autonomy, which, even if the Sultan was disposed to grant it, would be quite sure to be resented by the troops and the Mussulman population generally, and the mere suggestion has caused an increased feeling of antagonism against all foreigners which is quite noticeable.
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Just what the final outcome will be is difficult to foresee.
I have, etc.,