The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-03-14
The Eastern Question.


The following cstechism will probably be found
of much service 10 the conveners OF e the Ma
tional Conference on the Eastern question :"
Q.-What is the Eastern question. A.-The
question of the fate of Turkey.
Q.-Who gave 1t this pamel An. GuiEot
states in his Memoirs that the name was
given in 1899. by every one" TO the quarrel be-
tween the Sultan Mahmoud and his subject the
Pasha of Egypt, Mahomet Ali
Q-But Egypt rs NJ. Gnizot himself Oh
serves. is not tae Ottoman empire the Ottoman
Empire is not in the East The great States of
Western Europe have lost or acquired, turn by
turn, either through internal discords or by war,
considerable territories without any one speaking
of the Western question" Why is such Ian
guase as no one would have thought of employ
ing in regard the territorial crisis of Christian
Europe considered perfectly natural and legiti-
mate IN connection with the Ottoman Empire
1 A.-The reason is, that in the Ottoman Empire
there are now no local or partial questions. Not
the least shock, in the words of NJ Gnizot, can
make itself felt IL a corner Of the edlhce, not
stone can fall out ent the entire structure seems
/ TO be, and in fact is, on the point OF crumbling
! 10 pieces.
Q.-What more does NJ. Guizot say this
subject! A.-Difereut opinions, he adds, may
| be entertained Us TO the amount o. strength and
/ probable life still remaining IN this immense in-
valid but one seriously believes that he will
ever recover. His death, more or less near,
more or less natural, is q tact which influences
| The whole situation presentiment which iron-
| bles all Europe The question of Egypt was. IN
! 1882 the question Of the Ottoman Empire itself,
and the question of the Ottoman Empire is in
deed the question Of the East; not only OF the
! European East but of the Asiatic East we'll
\ for Asia rs now the theatre OF the ambitious
and rvalries of the great European nations, and
the Ottoman Empire Is the road, the gate, the
| key Of Asia.
| Q-What part did NJ. Guizot play in oounec
ton with the Eastern question? An 1889
! and lS40 this eminent statesman, then French
Ambassador at the Court OF 81. james, conduct
ed on the part OF France. negotiations with Lord
Palmerston on the part OF England, concerning
the Eastern question OF the time.
Q.-How did the late Lord Siraugford define
the Eastern question? Ale said that the
expression was convenient one, in two words.
for the whole aggregate of Turkish foreign
politics.
Q.-Wheu does Mr.. Grant Duff think this ex-
preston was first used Ale believes it was
first used IN its Latin equivalent at tie time
of The battle Of Lepanto
Q-What was the battle Of Lepanto? A
The third of the four decisive battles won or lost
by the Turks on European soil.
Q.-Name them in due order. and say what
they decided A.-Kossova. 1859, in which
the Turks, having just penetrated into Europe.
destroyed the ancient Sersian empire; Constan-
tinople. 1883, in which, after long siege. they
took the Byzantine capital; Lepanto, 1871.
when, at the hands OF VeuetisDs. Greeks. Span
lands and other imperialists under Don John of
Austria, the Turks received their first severe
check 10 the greatest naval engagement of mod
e,n times ; and Vienna, 1858. when Turkish
army, eneamped outside the Austrian capital,
was driven back and routed by John Sobieski
and Prince Eugene.
Q.-State, IN the simplest manner. how the
four great Turkish battles of the fourteenth
fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
should be viewed. A.-The two first as build
ing up the Turkish power, the two last as break
ing il down.
Q.-Was Turkey still regarded in the eigh-
teenlh century asa danger 10 Europe! A
No; for already towards the end OF the seven
teenth century Sir Thomas Roe, James lis am
s bassador at COnsiantinaple, wrote home that
Turkey was " ike the BODY OF an old man crszed
j with vices which puts on the appearance o.
health though near lis end"
Q.-Nhat important portion of its territory
in Europe did Turkey first lose, and when
A--Hungary, st the end of the seventeenth
century. Its next great territorial loss was The
Q.-Whst provinces have passed from beneath
It's dominion and became independent or quasi
independent in the nineteeEth century! A
Greece Moldavis and Wallaeha. now conformity
= calls3 Roumania; Seryia and Egypt.
Q Glow did these States gain such freedom
9 as noR belongs 10 them, and what Is the present
! position Of each with regard to Turkey? Frs
Q as 10 Greece A.-Greece was liberated as tn
result Of the national war carried on from 1871
1927. England was the first country to recog
. nize the independence OF Greece; but it Ess DO
!, until after the Russian war in 1928 and ls2
that the legal existence of the new State was &C
Q knoEledged by Turkey.
Q.-How did Moldavia and Wailachis becom
detached from Turkish rule! A-Moldavi
. and Weilachia were made seIf-governing prssci
psIities one Of the results of the Russo Turk
ISL war in ls2s ard 1929. Their position 8
. q0asi-independent vasszl States was establishe
: after the Crmean var under European quail
= aniee and in 1889 they we're united under Oh
prince, and took the name Of Roumanis.
2 Q-HoE did SerSia escaped A-Seryis
= after gaining many privileges for itself by arme
risings, repeated several times IN the course
the preset century. acquired its existing polit
:, cal organization without external aid, in the yea
{ 1880 1t hsd Its rights as 3 self-governing va
= sal State. guaranteed after the Crtmeau war an
y vas relieved Of the Turkish garrison which Ia
still been allowed TO occupy Belgrade in 1903.
Q.-HoE does the position Of Egypt diff,
:, from that Of Greece, Roumania and SerFia2 A.
8 Greece Is an independent State; Roumzuia IN
@ Servia are yassal States, independent except
- regErd TO the tribute payable to the Sutai
q Ezyp. Is seltgoverniug, and Is ruled by Vic
roy. IN whose family the Tieezoyalty has At lea
a. become hereditary: bat unlike Roumsaia a
@ Servia, it Is bound IN time Of var to furnish
e military contingent for the defence of the enpr
% Q.-YOu have not defined The position Of No
o te1egrO. Abe position Of NoBtenegro
= undesirable Fora long period Of years the 81
@ tan has claimed its allegiance, while Monteaeg
5 has asserted It's independence its Prince mea
while being pensioOer Of Russia and its Ch1rl
y branch Of the Russian Church, with the ca
s 81 its bead.
ny Q.-Whst are the three great national elsulen
in European Turkeyl A.-Tbe Ro0manian
7. The north. the Slavonian IN he centre and Il
= Greek IN the south.
OH CONNECTION with which Of these Fl
ments has the Eastern question been reyiFeS
: An connection slth the SlaFonian element
Q.-Let u speak. then, Of The SIzEouian e
: ment alone. What are the SATouizus1 A..
IL l. -