The Notes of Aristote Neophytos on the Macedonian Question in August 1908

This research presents an article by Aristote Neophytos that focuses on his proposed strategy for the Greek State to protect the national identity of the Greek element within the Ottoman Empire and address the Macedonian Question in August 1908. Neophytos alludes to the Russian expansive policy against the Ottoman Empire, indicating that Russia is its sole enemy. His analysis of the race struggle between Slavs and Greeks in Russia during the Berlin Treaty period follows; he concludes that the Greeks have lost their national identity due to the Pan-Slavistic Russian policy and their shared religion with the Slavs. The Macedonian Question serves as the focal point of his arguments. Taking the international context into account, he argues that Greece can expect limited territorial gains if it follows the Bulgarian policy aiming at the dismemberment of Macedonia. In addition, the Greeks would lose their national identity in Ottoman lands seized by the Slavs. He is confident that the Greeks and Armenians should help the Muslims to resurrect the Ottoman Empire. Obtaining a common Ottoman identity within a liberal constitutional State would be their shield against Pan-Slavistic objectives. His recommended course of action is to defend the Empire’s integration against Russian pro-Bulgarian plans and to reassess the potential for future annexation of Macedonia. This study also aims to present a literature review on the political issues that influenced his arguments, address specific related questions, and evaluate the degree to which his views are consistent with the bibliographical findings by presenting the correlated topics of European, Ottoman, and Greek politics, relations, and alliances.