New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-17
THE TURKS AND THE CONTENTION


ing. and separating without results, while the
subjects of tie various Powers were peihg
massacred in the streets OF Alexandria has
been goaded into activity by the bombardmeht.
On Saturday the representatives sat ior seVera'
hours and agreed on the terms OF note'
which. in identical language, was presented 10
the Porte by the dragOman of each embassy
This note calls upon the Porte to SEM troops
to Egypt to suppress Arab and restore orueI
to the distracted country. What steps the
Turkish Government will take, If any, can only
he surmised from the conduct of the Porte up
to the present time. THE TRIBUNE has ex-
nlained the position of the Sultan both as re-
CARDS his obligations by treaty and the policy
which is now being pursued by his Ministry.
We pointed ont that the autonomy OF Egypt
under Mehemct Ali and his successors was oo-
tained at the point os the bayOnet; that 1t was
w1ung from the Porte by disastrous war;
and that it was most unwillngly granted.
But by the force of events it was not only
granted by Turkey but confirmed by the rest
OF Europe and all the Powers of Europe are
at this moment bound by international con-
tract to sus ain that arrangement. The poicy
of Turkey has been throughout this Crisis to
cndcavor, if possible to make use OF Arab
p,cba rs a tool,to get rid Of the Khedive, and
50 TO resume the direct control of Egypt. The
able letter from our correspondent at Constan-
tnope, published yesterday, places this In the
clcarest light. Dcrvisch Pacha has been sent
to EgyDt, not to support the khedlYe or 10
fulfil the obligations of the Treaty OF London
of 1910. but if possible to break up the ar
ronpep,cnt effected thereby. His Instructions
are to play off one party against the other, TO
caiole the Khedive and fatter Arab until
bv so dong he can work his way in as " Regent
of Egypt.p Turkish diplomacy hopes to de-
strov the arrangement entered into by Europe
and get rid of any obstacle between the Turk
ish tax-gathercr and the Egyptian Fellaheen.
Europe sees clearly through this policy, and
European newspapers such as 1he Dd'ty Ne'cS
declare that the time for Turkish Intervention
has passed.
To realize adequately, however, the difficult
tv of the position, we must thoroughly under
stand the extent and magnitude of the ques-
tons which that treaty set at rest. In the first
PLACE it dealt with all the various diff
entities which existed between Turkey
and Russia. 1t established the rights of
the Sultan over the Bosphorus and
closed the Black Sea against all ships of war.
1t defined the position of Turkey in Europe
and its relation to Russia. In addition to this
the treaty contained by way of schedule
another document. This, under the form of a
memorandum containing a spontaneous offer
Inv the Sultan was in fact the terms wrung
from Turkey by Mehemet Ali. 1t offered the
Albanian adventurer during his life the CAL
innate of Acre and to him and his descend
ants the Pachalik of Egypt The Egyptian
auestion therefore is bound up with and in
wolves the entire Eastern question and cannot
be separated from it; for to infringe the
treaty in part would be to destroy it as Il
whole and involve Europe in another general
war. Not only did the European Powers pas
sively consent TO the arrangement between the
Sultan and his victorious vassal, but they
bound themselves to enforce the agreement. II
is expressly stipulated that they shall
send their fleets to Egypt if necessary
to compel the performance of the treaty.
While, therefore, we may wonder at the
delay of the Convention in coming to
the somewhat tame conclr sion of Saturday,
it is not surprising that its members tread ten
derby over the delicate ground of the situation.
1t is true that there has been a reconsidera-
ton of that portion of the treaty which related
to Europe after the Crimcan war and again
after the Russo Turkish war by the Treaties OF
Vienna and Berlin, but the conditions with
regard to Egypt. have never been altered.
Our statements as to the probable course OF
England have been verified almost literally
within the last fOrty-eight hours. England has
refused to become the police constable of Eu-
rope, and as Sir Charles Dixie said, it is for
Europe to decide what course shall be adopted
wi h Arab Pacha. Whether Mr.. BriGhto resig-
nation will set the policy of the Government
free from a deterrent influence cannot yet be
known. The fact that Mr.. Chamberlain and
Sir Charles Dixie still remain members of the
Cabinet may be taken as conclusive that there
has been no severance of the Radical party,
and that Mr.. Gladstone still controls the left
wing of his followers. SO far then we may
conclude that England has the Convention well
in hand, and that on her part there will be no
divided counsels. The probable result will be
that the Turks will continue to avoid giving
any definite answer, or, if they undertake TO
intervene, will so delay the transport of troops
that fresh troubles will break out at Cairo and
elsewhere. rendering instant European inter
yention absolutely necessary. Private tele-
grams just received in this city indicate that
France has within the last twenty-fOUr hours
definitely decided TO join England in the occu-
patton of Egypt, and that this will he done with
the accord of all the other Powers. One thing
is clear, the interests involved are of such i'm
mense importance that they cannot be allowed
to remain at the mercy of the feeble and dila-
tory policy OF Turkey.
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