New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-03
TIE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.

THE CAPITAL AFTER THE CONFERENCE.
RUSSIA INTENT UPON MAKING THE BosPHoRUs
FREE-TuE TURKS TRANQUIL AND CONFIDENT
DISTRESS N ASIA MINOE-THE TURKS AS Legs
LATURs.
IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or TIE TIDuNEI
CoxsrANrINopLE, Jan. 23.-War preparations
continue bat there is s.Ill very much doubC as TO
the actual imminemcc OF hOstilities. 1t is believed
by many that Iurkey vii treat directly with
Russia Nearly year ago Gen. Iguaticif said in con
versation that Russia intended TO secure the ncu-
tralization of the Bosphorus and the Dardaneles
before the existing differences shall b. settled. Ii
is now reported that Russia will receive that con-
ces,iou from Turkey ANA make no further demand
Another surmisc is that in The interim, before cam
paigning becomes possible, the Turkish Ministry
will arrange basis of agreement through the Orli-
nary diplomatic channels. The dignity of the Gov
crinnCnt has been saved ny the breaking up of the
Conference The popularity of the Ministry is as
sured BY their rejection Of the demands VI the Con-
ference Europe is too anxious to avoid war not 10
be willing to compromise upon any plan which snail
reasonably assure beginning of reform in the pro-
vincal administration OF Turkey. Hence many eX-
pect an arrangement substantially as proposed by
the Conference. Tho crisis is therefore taken very
coollv. Three weeks ago the removal of Gen. ~
naticffs silver plate was enough to put Government
bonds down eight per cent. To-day, after the III
di gnant departure of the General himself Govern
ment bonds are as high as they were last week and
higher than before the fall Of three weeks ago.
The provinces arc still in disturbed state
Especially from Armenia we hear Of troubles. The
Koords, who are as urtainable rs American Indians
are harassing the VILLAGERS of the Mou5h and B,tis
districts, and TIE Governor teegraphs that he is
powelless, as ne has 10 troops The Armenans
being Christians, are not allowed 10 protect them
selves. The KOords profess to b. Noslcms. Hence
the Christian who kills one Of them even III SELF
defense is sure to be punished by the Government.
We have now particulars Of the fire at Van, in Armc-
MIA 1t seems TO have been planned beforehand by
the soldiers. Their officers did not interfere, and
about 800 shops were burned, besides 200, which
were plundcrcd but not burned. The Christian
merchants of Van have lost T2,5OOoUO, ana they
are utterly crushed by the blow IL Asia Minor
there is great misery among the people. The regions
which suffered from the fannie of 1874 fear .
similar calamity. If war takes place famine
can hardly be avertcd in those districts. As it is,
the people barely live, and yet the Government Is
pressing for more money for war purposes. | knox
of villages which are compelled 10 borrow money at
usrious interest TO satisfy the taXgathcrer and the
extra war fund" collector Many villagers have
a debt of as much SO head for each member OF
their families upO which they pay not less than II
per cent and often 20 per cent interest. The result
naturally is that the villagers belong practically to
the money lender. This state of things cannot con-
Time. The Government holds out hopes that The
National Assembly Will redress every wrong, but it
Will take some time to accusiom the Turks TO lcgs-
lative duties The practical working of elective
councils so far has been, in the first place, to make
them refugees for the politically halt and manned
and blind. In the second place the members watch
IN a
measure the members applaud, and when he says
No the assembly also cries in chorus God forbid"
~ its verdict The other day in the Council which
considered the propositions Of the Conference the
civil head of the Protestanis OF Turkey was less
hostile to tie proposed settlement than other Chris
tians. He sp.ke against. pIccPltate action and re-
commended dclibcrytiOn. Since then he has had
hardly any reprsc lie fears ostracism, at least, as
tho result Of ms tcmeIty. The right Of free discus
sion viii have a hard struggle for existence III the
new assembly under such state Of public feeling.