Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-14
EASTERN SITUATION
Explained by the Minister
to Turkey.
AN INTERVIEW WITH S. s. COX.
The Diplomacy of Turkey Leaves
Her in Possession of the Capital
Point in the Oriental World.

Her in Possession of the Capital
Point in the Oriental World.
In an interview recently the Hon. S. s.
Cox, Minister Plenipotentiary to the
Sublime Porte, talked freely of the stir
ring events that are now making history
in the Orient. After reviewing the
causes which led to the Eastern imbrog
lilo, Mr.. Cox referred to the recent signi
ficant election in Bulgaria thus:
"The Great Sobranje is sort of or
ganic convention or legislature. 1t had
been summoned by the Provisional Gov.
ernment, which was installed when
Prince Alexander left, to elect the sue.
cessor to that Prince. You will observe
that all the Government candidates have
been successful. That means that the
popular candidates, who sympathize with
the Provincial Government of Bulgaria,
and who are inimical to Russian aggres.
sion and rule, are prepared to eliminate
Russian influence and repel Russian auto.
cracy in Bulgaria. 1t is one of the most
unmistakable elections in its result, for
it indicates almost unanimity in the popu.
lar approval of institutions not dissimilar
with our own.
"What will Russia do in this event?'
"To me, looking at the matter from
my standpoint at Bucharest, in Rou.
mania, where 1 sojourned on my way
home, and from knowledge of the i'm
broglio, gathered from ahundred sources
at Constantinople, it looks as if Russia
would make rupture, and with force
and arms control, since she has failed to
control by the popular election. Per.
haps she will claim that the elections are
invalid, Perhaps she will rally all the
Scav element which remains faithful to
her, or, it is said, grateful to Russia for
rescuing Bulgaria from Turkey. But 1
do not see how Russia can make a unit
in her favor of the Balkan provinces.
The Turkish rule in Bulgaria has not
been harsh, at least recently. l believe
even in Macedonia, Epirus and Albania,
where the Selav and Greek element dom.
mate, the population are more centent
and are better governed under the mild
Turkish rule than if they were under an
uncertain Government, like that Of
Greece, or despotic force like that of
Russia. Much of the old prejudice
against the Turk has worn out. But it
is very easy, if Russia desires it, to
make
A PRETEXT FOR WAR.
The Spanards have a proverb. eff
you want to kill dog, charge him with
eating IRON" So the Russians are pro-
voking much hostility which they may
be very anxious to avenge, and perhaps
some turbulence in Bulgaria may afford
them the pretext. The way matters
stand, if an election were to take place
and Prince Alexander would return and
accept the election, he would no doubt
be elected by the Great Sobranje. For
although he made rather a lamentable
show in undertaking to concliate the
Gar, and seemed to be pluckest in
leaving Bulgaria for the reason which
he assigned, nevertheless he has hold
upon the hearts of the people, which has
been more or less strengthened by his
gallantry in the recent war with Servia.
" But Russia is massing troops upon
the border. | saw Russian officers by
the score at Bucharest, tramping around
in their high.top boots and jingling
spurs, as if anxious to cross the Danube
and take charge of the Bulgarian people,
among whom are now added. to Rou-
melians. By glance at the map it will
be seen that there was an object in the
great Powers leaving East Roumelia
with the Turk and granting Bulgaria
proper quasi self-government for the
Balkan range of mountains, which are a
strong defense and barrier, stand be-
tween Russian advance and the cities
of Turkey in Europe. If, therefore,
Russia should attack Bulgaria, she
would take it along with East Roumelia.
That brings her over the border-over
the Balkans. With her immense army
always equipped and modified she
could move down, where she was nine
years ago, upon the shores of the Bos-
phorus or Marmora, and take Constanti.
nople in the rear in disregard of all tor
pedoes and ironclads, and without any
naval armament whatever"
sis this desirable result? And if
the Turk should be oustea from the
Bosphorus or Europe, what Power will
be his successor"
" The answer depends upon the atti.
tude Austria, Germany and England
may assume. England could do much
with her navy, Austria more with her
land forces. But Germany is the power
that might, if she chose, determine the
question. III there be triple or 'holy
alliance between Austria, Germany and
Russia, the matter is ended and the
Turk must go.' But this same attitude
has been held by Turkey for 10 these
many years, if not centuries. The skill
full diplomacy of the Ottoman has
played one power against the other.
This policy leaves her in possession of
the most conspicuous and capital point
ir the Oriental world.
''For many months, almost until re-
Gently, since September, 1885, Turkey
has been standing with her hand upon
her sword, with an army of 200, 600 well
equipped men, ready for any emergency.
Her Sclavonic enemy, whether on the
borders Of Greece, in Macedonia, or on
the frontiers of Persia or Russia in Asia,
or upon the Balkan border, has lost no
time in preparation by land and sea,
WHAT 1T COSTS