The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-03


the United states and was universally known as
their hereditary ioe Both sides OF the entrance to
her fine harbor owned by the United States and
the plea that the Hudson river belonged to the ter
ritory OF another power would scarcely be admitted
to her own exposure and probable destruction. 1t
may be readily supposed that the Sultan was more
apprehensive OF aggression on the part OF his openly
declared enemy, Russia, than from the more friendly
Powers OF the Mediterranean, OF France or England
all OF whom have no desire to see Russia extend
her already immense dominions and increase her
power at the expense OF the Ottoman En-
pire. The 'balance OF power" Is too vital question
| In Europe for these Powers not to be keeny senS
| tive on the score Of Russian aggrandizement
While therefore. the two straits OF the Dardanees
and BosphOrus closed IN times OF peace against
the naval fleets OF all the world the Sultan as SOW
| ereign over both, exercises the power Of allowing
light vessels or war in connection with the foreign
embassies at his capital to pass them freely. He
therefore also deems 1t proper to make exceptions IN
favor OF especial cases as, for example, IN that of
the United States frigate Franklin. Having, how
ever agreed with the great naval Powers OF Europe
| to maintain his "ancient usage" he communicates
with them previous to making such exceptions in
favor OF any one OF them OF any other Power not
| European. Russia, ever on the alert to Illustrate
and remove this action OF the sovereign right and
usage Of the Sultan which Is readily seen to
be more against her plans and policy than against
those OF any other Christian Power some time since
made an excuse TO the Porte that one OF her young
princes was deslrous OF passing from Odessa TO
Greece in steam frigate in lieu OF yacht or any
other ordinary conveyance, and asked permission
Tor frgate to pass up from the Mediterranean
through The straits for him. The request was ac-
coded to as neghborly act Of good win, but 1t
seems to have offered precedent which tended to
Inconvenience the Sultans government.
On the other hand the pr0poser OF the resolution
| has been msled into the belief that merchant yes
sells OF all Powers, and those of the United States In
particular are not allowed to pass freely through
the DardaneIles and Bosphorus, and that they are
was greater imposition and deception practsed on
any statesman than this. The whole thing utterly
ia Sc. The only reQuSlti0n needed Tor merchant YES
sells for this purpose is good strong southerly wind
| or tugboat TO secure their passage through the
Dardanelles, on their way either to Constantinople
| or the Black Sea. No 't0ll,n hrman or any other
document Is required to secure their entrance and
| passage. II such vessels are detained at the
| to the prevalence OF northerly winds and the
economical measures OF their owners, who will not
pay for towing. they have not, however, been here
| tofore allowed 70 pass them during the night, and
tbs for an obvious reason-t. e, ignorance OF the
real character OF the vessels. Lighthouses have OF
neles so Us enable merchant ships to enter them
during the night but as yet their passage through
,ae mas ~ noo Deen S% ia h w
able whether the wind and current or four miles
hour will allow them to avail themselves OF It, There
is certainly no reason why such vessels should not
be lett with the option OF proceeding on their vOy
ages, If they can do SO at night. after having pre-
vOusy satisfied the authorities OF the fortress OF their
| peaceful character.
Merchant ships which have arrived at and cast
anchor in the Golden Horn or the BOsphorus, both
Of which constitute the port OF the capital cannot
| return through the Dardanelles on their way
| back. or leave 1t for the Black Sea, without
document certlfes that they have paid all the usual
port fees and those Of the lighthouses well the
Custom House. in case they have discharged taken
! in cargoes. There Is, however, now grievance
which ought to be corrected by the government, and
| 1t is to be hoped that some means will soon be
adopted for doing It, iz.-Merchant ships, IN bal
last or laden, which have thus come to the capital
through the Dardanelles with fair southerly wind,
compelled to procure 1rnlans for their passage
through the Bosphorua into the Black Sea. Deten-
ton may be, and In most cases s easily avoided by
their agents procuring frmans for them previous to
ftNoip ha hn ia
tanned longer than Is necessary to receive the rmans
from the boats OF their agents which go alongside
OF the Bosphorus they must also round to and deliver
this clearance to the boat OF the fortress, which
goes alongside for It. IN In great many cases
same thing occurs at the Dardanelles, where the FIR
mans must be delivered to the boat OF the COM
mander OF the fortress These clearances cost about
two dollars and fifty cents and as the port charges
Of the harb0r Of Constantinople amount in lots to
about one dollar surely the declaration that toll is
levied on all merchant ships Is scarcely admissible.
1t may be here asked whether vessel Of 400 tons
burden, which visits the port OF New York and
dues, gets Oh With three dollars and haifs If this
sum. paid at Constantnople by each merchant ship,
s Of r. New Ve
sells are allowed to cieart
england. France Greece. Russia and some other
them have thousands Of vessels ss per 0S Snnu1
fof theif passage through the Bosphorus and
Dardanelles. The system ts certainly open to i'm
provement but this does not involve the question OF
the sovereign rights Of the sultan his own terri
tory and the straits and lake which intervene be-
tween Them. AS TO the trade Of the United States
with C0nstantn0ple, 1t amounts to two three, at
most four vessels year, while to the ports OF the
Black Sea whole years elapse without single Amcri
result Of the heavy toll assessed upon them their
passage or inpediment6 put In the way Of their Tree
access to the Black Sea- The real cause Of this small
trade between the United States and these ports that
America produces almost nothing that VIII sell to ad
vantage In them; and Russia, Turkey and the shores
of the Danube have nothing for sale that Is not
found in abundance In the United States There is,
nevertheless, vast field for American industry In
Constantinope, In manufactures, machinery, arms
and the produce OF the ingenuity and inventive
wholly UNEMPLOYED by them. The Ottoman govern
ment has hitherto held the United States and their
citizens In the light OF impartial and, politically
speaking, disinterested friends. 1t has never had
relations existing between the United States and
Russia that the former would In any form or
shape lend themselves to the promotion OF the
schemes or aggression OF the latter over
Turkey. Certainly the people OF the United
States have never had any cause to complain OF in
justice or a want OF courtesy on the part OF the
Sultan his government to them or to their public
functonaries visiting this capital. On the contrary
II has always been particularly pointed In it, aten-
ton to the latter as In the recent case Of Admiral
American citizens resident here and throughout this
empire hope that the Porte Will never have any
TO change favorable an opinion, especially through
resolutions OF SO peculiar character as the one re-
silly yelled not to show "Russia" written in large
letters, clearly visible through Its frail texture
ENGLAND