The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-10
THE ANGLO. TURKISH Treaty

THE ANGLO-TURKISH TREATY..
The general terms of the Anglo-Turk-
ish Treaty are by this time so well
known that it is almost superfuous to
recapitulate them. Briefly stated, Eng
land assumes protectorate over Asiatic
Turkey, which she agrees to defend from
future Russian aggression, and to enable
her to accomplish this effectually she
takes possession of the Island of Cyprus,
with the provision that the Convention
shall terminate upon Russia retroceding
her conquests in Asia Minor, or rather
that part of them which the Congress
allows her to retain. In accepting this
vast responsibility, England, of course,
stipulates that she shall be allowed to
make such reforms as are necessary in the
administration of the country she pro-
tects. That there is abundant room for
such reforms, the whole world knows.
The terms upon which Cyprus is tic be
held, except those generally stated above,
are not yet clear. At first, it was said
that the British Government was to pay
the Porte the present excess of the reve-
nue. over the expenditure, but on later
and better authority it is stated that
England is to pay $650,0O0 yearly. AS
the revenue of the Island is only $780,
600 per annum, it has been made to APP
pear that its new owner will be out of
pocket by the transaction. Atany rate,
Flo, 900 year would be little enough to
pay for possession which England, in
common with other Powers, 50 long has
coveted, but it is evident that if the
revenue of Cyprus was 100000 under
Turkish misrule, it will speedily gain
another CIPHER when England under.
takes to govern it. The place is to be
garrisoned by ten thousand Indian troops
and several British battalions. These
will almost instantly attract very
large foreign population. The island is
spacious, fertile, and possessed of abund-
ant resources. 1t cannot be doubted,
therefore, that even merely as territorial
acquisition it will soon prove of great
value to Great Britain.
But it was not with this object that
Cyprus was acquired, and it is not from
this point of view that its importance to
England can be estimated. If Cyprus
were the most barren rock imaginable,
the expense of buying and maintaining
troops upon it would be repaid humid
red fold by the incalculable importance
of its geographical position. The island
lies within one days travel by steamer
from the entrance of the Suez Canal,
and within a much smaller distance
from the coast of Asiatic Turkey. 1t is
needless to say mere to those who are
acquainted with the map, with Eng
lands interest in keeping open communi-
cation with her Eastern Empire, and
with Russia's manifest designs upon the
countries through which the overland
road to India runs. 1t may be premature
to speak as yet of railroad from point
on the Asiatic coast over against Cyprus
to the Euphrates, or of military station
at the head of the Persian Gulf, into
which that mighty river empties, but
such possibilities are by no means re-
mote; and when they are accomplished,
Russia may, good and all, turn her eyes
in some other direction than that of
Central Asia, to say nothing of India.
AS it is, the Sultan's Asiatic dominions
are now secure from future invasion
from the north while England's Pro-
tectorate lasts, and it remains to be seen
whether the Gar will not prefer to give
up Kars, Ardahan and Batoum, rather
than thus be confronted with an obstacle
which he can never hope to overcome,
and which will grow more insuperable
every day that it lasts.
Before this last coup Lord Beacops-
fields policy was more admirable for its
unhinching firmness than for its.
brilliancy. Now, however, he has per
formed diplomatic feat which has sell