New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-24
TURKEY AFTER THE WAR
CYPRUS, BOSNIA AND GREECE.

CONsrANTINOPLE, Aug. 3.-ln Cyprus everything
is alive Only three weeks ago two solitary English
men, clothed in cool white duck, staked into the
Paeha's palace, announced themselves MI. Bar
ing of the English Legation, and the captain Of
Her Majestys ship Salamis, aud showed the as
founded Turk the Sultan's Firman of Transfer
and took the rens of government from his hands
Since then business has improved in Cyprus. Men
have ocked IN from all the surrounding coasts. and
from Europe, expecting to make money rapidly. The
ambition to be connected at the outset with
new government, which may in the near future
grow into the control of Asia Minor. acts very
powerful incentive. If the negotiations had not
been perfectly secret the island would long ago
have swarmed with adventures. This secrecy is
marvellous, nothing having been known publicly
OF the treaty until full month after IL was signed.
When the time came for the transfer Of the island
the Sultan'S frman promised for a certain day,
and Mr.. Barring was sent on board the English gun
boat on which lie to go to the island For three
days the ship waited at Therapa with steam up for
that tirman. ButnO one was allowed to communicate
with the shore. Mr.. Barring could see his wife from
the Ship but he was to speak toher With
all the preeautiOn, there were some very extensive
operations in real estate at the last moment. 4 he
spectators looked ruelul, however, on learning
that the English Government would appropriate
any lands it desired for public use, and determine
the price itself. There is grief among the wine
bibbers over the transfer of Cyprus. Cyprus wine
is famous throughout the East. Now the English
are in control and will export all the warm and spicy
product of the wine press for TO their cold and
f0ggy land. 1t is said that the conquest of Cyprus
by the Turks was due to the affection of Sultan
Selim H. for Cyprus wine. The Venetians held the
island under treaty, paying to Turkey tribute
of 10000 ducats. But Seim consulted the Sheik-
ul-Islam whotOld him that treaties with infdels
not binding. Soon after, 100000 Turks appeared
at Cyprus. and early in 1871, after campaign of
some months. they captured Famagusta, the last
stronghold of the Yenetians. The commander of
this fortress was fayed and his skin stuffed with
straw was sent to COnstantinOple with his head.
Such was the first act of the Turkish rulers Of Cy
prus
The occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is an
accomplished fact The Turkish Pachas are in
chronic condition of deiberatiOn in these
days, but their deliberations avail naught.
They wished Austria to promise to eyac-
uate Bosnia in less than year, to
keep the Servians and MOntenegrlns in check and
to recognize and retain the Turkish Governors in
Bosnia. These modest conditions were to be the
price of assent to the occupation The Turks to
have hoped that Austria would guarantee the integ
rity Of European Turkey England has done on the
Aslatc side. But Austria was proof against the bland
smiles of the Pachas, and has entered the country
in spite of an utterance that Turkey VIII hold them
responsible for any bloodshed the invasion may
cause in Bosnia the Moslems ferment
against Austria just as there is a movement against
annexation to Greece among the AlbaniaDs, and
against the transfer of Batum among the Laz 1t
would be a grave charge against the Turkish
Government to say that it is causing this cOmmO-
ton TO reard the execution of the Berlin Treaty,
and to acquire pretext for hwarting the execution
of the Berlin Treaty. The circumstances however,
are suspicious. The MOslems of Bosnia quite as
much exhausted by three years OF war as their
Christian neighbOrs. 1t follows that powerful in
centives must have been used TO make them take up
arms. The MOsem religious doctors here com
plain that the Government OF Bosnia is about
to pass into the hands OF lnhdels, while
the country is nominaly part OF the Sultans
domains. Every decision of the Government must
be harmOnized with the Koran and Its principles
The great men OF the Ulema exercise considerable
ingenuity in finding precedent and authority in the
Koran for the changes OF the day. lhey yleld
nothing of their proud claims, even IN the case OF
the cessOn of Cyprus to England. The guarantee
of a certain annual payment OF revenue by England
to the Porte is the saving clause IN tins case the
language of the learned doctors, this Is payment OF
tribute to the Calph of Islam by the lnhdel Gov
eminent of England The transaction al once Dc
comes legitimate one. The case OF the Eenetians
on tins very island is precedent for they paid
tribute to Turkey during half century.
The Greek question is thrown into the shade blythe
question of Bosnia. There seems to be no doubt,
however that in due time the Turks will gracefully
yield the territory mapped out by the Congress.
Turkish ways are not Franksh ways. Their idea Of
Welding gracefully is to refuse point blank to fill
ptermnable dispatches with objections, to gesticu-
late wildly to declam angrly, and at the last pos
sible moment to change front aud surrender every
thing A good deal is said at Athens about
neglected Greek rights, but think the Greeks can
afford TO wait while they develop what they have,
before annexng large sections Of new territory
with mixed populations. 1t is but fair that they
should have their natural frontier on the north.
The protocols of the Alliance of 1S29|30 were drawn
I'D without reference to physical geography. Thiss
rectifed by the Berlin arrangement But the Greeks
are still so little advanced that the sole career
omen to their educated men IL commerce abroad or
meaningless but perpetual wran0le for power With
the Ministry at home. While this is the case, the
annexation OF border lands IS hardly the question
that presses. The pressing question is the de-
fence from oppression OF the Greek populations.
With the Greeks as they are, ibis can DC
most hopefully undertaken 10y the proposed
European Commission, In the future the
Greeks may expect great things. lhere are three
times AZ many Greeks out Of Greece than IN it.
They form the very life OF great districts In
Roumelia and even III the heart OF Asia Minor. AS
yOu look at the map OF the Greater greece you are
struck with tie power which the little
kingdom of Greece would acquire should II COM
mand the relative position that Great Britain bears
To her colonies. Greece Is growing, but the people
III her colonies are greater wealth and IN weight
of character than the people Of Greece. Until the
relation is reversed 30 that Athens shall become
fTnv the centre Of the Greek world the question OF
annexation can hardly be a vitality pressing ques-
ton for adjacent provinces
There are still $4,000 refugees in this city, nc
cording TO Official statements. The health of the
CITY is however, much improved, and the refugees
themselves are in better condition. AS rule they
IL a,,Io