New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-24
THE ATTITUDE OF TURKEY.
THORNTONS BLUNDERs - Mr.. COx-RAIL-
ROADS-TOBACCO.

fvpoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBuNEl
CONsrANTlNOPLR October l.
The fable of the wolf and the lamb Is being
enacted over again in Bulgaria The Bulgarians
are guilty of disturbing the peace of Russia, for
eooth and must be brought TO terms or else the
most terrible things will come to pass And when
the Bulgarians ask General Kaulbars the new
Russian agent at Sophia. what Is the sum of their
offending. he answers that they have been guilty
Of arresting the who kidnapped the Prince.
and.that they have thus destroyed the confidence of
the Gar In the stability of the Bulgarian Govern
ment. General Kaulbars makes the demand that
che score or 80 of consprators who are now In
prison awaiting trial be released, otherwise the
Gear will not be able to recognize the election oil
the new Prince. Unless these twenty men are re-
leased before the election 1t cannot be said that al
parties have had voice In the election. 1t is true
that Bulgaria is a small country, but even in so
small q land the demand for the inva.idation OF
the election because of the exclusion Of these
twenty traitors Is so preposterous that the Bull
sarsns fast approaching pass where reconcilia-
tion with Russia will be possible only on the
basis of the paci6caton Of Poland-the absorption
of the country 10 the great Empire OF the North
For help against thcir too-mighty friend the Car
the Bulgarans are looking 60 Europe with anxiety
but with every probability of looking In vain.
The attitude of Turkey at this crisis is most ex
traordnary in that 1t is one of acquescence in the
plans of Russia with tue certainty OF further
seizures Of Turkish territory by the Russians before
the eyes Of every Turkish statesman. The manner
Of this change OF attitude Is curious story. AT
the time of tue Union of the Two Bulgarias, last
fall, the English Government succeeded In in
ducinG the Sultan to adopt an ant-Russian policy.
to support Prince Alexander In his assumption OF
the eovernorship of the united country. and to
promise the changes of the organic law of Eastern
Rumelia which were deemed needfu in view of the
Union The English Ambassador at that time was
Sir William White. a gentleman OF long experience
of Eastern affairs. and of hearty manner of adj
dress which easily the confidence of the Turks.
He was in Constantine BY accident, as 1t we're.
when the Bulgarian question was opened. having
been sent there temporarily while Sir Edward
Thornton. newly appointed to the post. was making
his preparations to remove from St Petersburg TO
the Bosphorus As the march OF events engaged
Sir William White in the In portant negotiations
which resulted in the Conference of Constantinople
he was allowed to finish his work. and Sir Edward
Thornton had small vacation As soon as the
work of the conference ended, Sir Edward
Thornton was sent to his post and Sir William
White returned to his previous post at Bucharest
II so happened that this change of representatives
of the Queen at Constantiuope was regarded by
stone to power aud as marking the abandonment
by him of the policy which Lord Salisbury had so
carefully been working ont in the East More |
over Sir Edward Thornton had small acquaintance |
with the inner intrcaces Of the Eastern Question.
was decidedly Russian in his dislike of Prince |
Alexander of Bulgaria. and to crown all was in out
ward seeming much less genial than Sir William |
White that .he failed to win the confidence OF the
Turkish Ministers. IL was but few days after he |
arrived that the Russian Ambassador succeeded in |
convincing the Turks that the English policy as to
b. garia changed. and that in view of this new
proof Of the uncertainty OF the temper of the |
English Turkey conld do no better than to take |
the advice of the representative Of the Gar. who |
was supported by that great and potent combina-
ton. the alliance of the three Empires In very |
short time the Turks had as good as broken with |
Alexander of Bulgaria. had refused the modifca- |
tions of the organic law of Eastern Rumelia which |
the Bulgaraus deemed necessary. and In fact bad |
undone all that the English had been so anxious to
have done in the way of interpreting a barrier IN
the Balkans against the Russian policy. Ihe
kidnapping revolution of this fall-based in theory
on this change of policy of the Sultan was thus |
due largely to the fact that Sir Edward Thornton
succeeded Sir William White at Constantinople.
The Turkish argument to tho Russian alliance
Is this: English friendship is at best selfish and
Russia is bound to take the Balkan provinces
sooner or later Better by far have the time of the
seizure delayed by being compaisant to the wishes
of the Czar, than to have the dav FASTENED by |
following the English policy. winch after all leads
TO nothing so far as gain for Turkey is concerned.
It IL an absolute fact that the majority of the lead
ing men of Turkey to-day are heartily Russian In |
their sympathy. even while they feel that time |
will come when they will give all that they have |
for some one to help them fight Rus la. At |
present. should Austria continue to resist the
execution of the Russian plans in tho Balkans and
80 bring o. a war. it, would be quite possible for
the spectacle to lie presented to the world OF an |
alliance of urkey with Russia against Austria |
is increasing her armamsnts. bot tho bulk
Of tho troops being placed in line where they |
would be available against Austria, rather than
against Russia
: Mr.. Coz, our Minister at the Porte. has gone home
for q leave of absence. He has been able
representative OF the United States. and his de-
parturs calle out from the American missionaries
n this city letter Of thanks for his services. and
ID earnest that he would not be seduced by tho
,uticements of political life In America into an
,ba ndon ment of his Office here. Mr. Cox has had
Ia kies, task. owing to the peace at any price"
policy which our Government is obliR sd to adopt in
t. relations with Its neighbors An Ambassador
II the United States at Constantinople light have
ess OF afrOnts to swallow than a Minister. even a
Minister Pieuipotentiary. must make up his
mind to endure II he comes TO Turkey. The policy
# the Government places the United States Minis
or on "A par with the representatives Of the third
ate Powers Of Europe. and the Minister mnst have
N angelic disposition who would put up with the
light for long.
Turkey is fnll of railway projects just now. This
ime il is German combination which is trying to
OF tho concession to build some 1000 miles of
alrOads IN Asialic Turkey. from ConstaDtInope
D the Persian Gulf. There is no doubt that there
plenty OF money to be made by some IN this
me- but the Turkish Government as at present
onsf tuted is all og1ther too apt to demand all the
rolts. ana to reIinqnish TO the railway companies
"a l,nr, Ion. AMI nf oh This ms |