New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-10
DIPLOMACY AT STAMBOUY.
ARMENIAN TROUBLESOME NEW RAILROADS
CUSTOM HOUSE MYSTERIES

Several recent occurrences nave eXcitcu In The
Turkish mind deep distrust of the intentions of
England The Nineteenth Century" and The
contemporary Review have had articles rejecting
in uostntcd terms on the country and the Govern
ment: The London Times has published an APP
neal for aid from England. presented to Lord Sails
hury by some Armenians living in London, and
Lord Salisbury, instead of sending these men away
unheard has talked with them on the subject of
,eforms in Armenia and the rights Of the Armenians
under the Berlin Treaty. All these things have
combined 70 give the Russian Ambassador here
rare opportunity to suggest that Turkey has much
% fear from undetermined measures on the part Of
uerddious Albion. The result is that the Turks
themselves are stirred with hate toward England as
never before and fairly gnash the teeth at sight
NJ An Englishman or an American, whom they re-
card as the Englishman's brother in disguise. The
English Ambassador here is man able in the arts
~ Oriental diplomacy and he has full information
every day Of the particular steps taken by his Rus
sian colleagues and so he is in position to thwart
,bc evil impressions as best he may. 1t is a game
WHICH is always being played here, this intrigue
and counter-intrigue between the representatives
Of the great Powers. The times of Rioaeleu
,sviyed and their methods 1t is currently be-
Iieyed that every great Embassy has its corps of
nal SPIES whose business il is to know every act.
and II possible every thought OF every man in any
,,ar connected with the interests Of the day.
Stories are abundant OF the promptness and the
fitness Of the reports which come to the various
embassies when one Of the Ambassadors has an
audience or an interview at the Sublime Porte.
The particular point which the Russian Ambas-
sador is Just now anxious TO make the Turkish
Government believe is the danger of an outbreak
in Armenia, fostered by England All the means
possble for discovering and overthrowing the plans
Of conspirators in active in the eastern parts
Of Turkey Every Armenian who travels is sure
70 be arrested and searched If he has a book or
written papers on his person, he is put in prison
until the book can be examined and the papers
translated The prisons arc well filed with sus-
uected agitators, and often the sole cause of
pcion is the possession of letters containing pas
sagcs which are obscure the mind of the censor.
For instance, n schoolmaster goes to a new place
of employment and friend writes congratulating
him on his appointment, and telling him hope
that you will succeed in your work" The man is
arrested and this wished for success found III his
pocket is enough to cause his detention rs n sus-
pcct What can work be for which any one
should wish success if 1t is not work that intends
the overthrow of the Turkish authority? The re-
salt is that perfect reign of terror has fallen
Armenia, and the people who have been perfectly
willing be peaceable subjects OF the Sultan are
beginning wish that they were not so hopelessly
outnumbered, that they might devise means
Of giving the authorities reason for suspicion OF
course, in view of the smallness of number of the
Armenans there is not the least danger of any
uprising among them, even if they were the most
disloyal of Turkish subjects. Nevertheless, they
serve the purpose of Russia in her present game,
and so the play goes on The impression which all
this stir produces is that of in the process
81 uI,a. nd ha
papers pipe peaceful strains, in Constantinople
every one is of necessity pessimist as to the
danger of war.
The first train from Paris has at last been allowed
TO come through to Salonica. Sxty-four hours from
Paris is the time required for the transit The
railway through Bulgaria is also completed to Con-
stantinople and before long the Oriental Express
will be running its through trains to Constantine
pic without change. The new lines cross the
Danube at Belgrade, traverse Sergia to Nisch. and
there separate, the one TO go through Macedonia |
10 Salonica and the other to skirt the Balkans |
Sophia, and thence by Philippopolis TO Constan-
tinope The line from ConstantinOple TO the edge
Of the Balkans has been in operation for ten years
II has been worked on very conservative principles
the trains stopping for the night like the old time
caravans and it is not easy convince the native
mind that railway trains can be run by night
without danger of catastrophe to themselves or to
the overstrained constitutions of their passengers
But as soon as the necessary fornalites shall have
been gene through, the whole system OF Oriental
tavel will undergo an enormous change.
The country through which the traveller will
approach ConStantinOpe is in an absolutely I'M
sued condition as TO the effects Of European
civilization. The villagers are two centuries at
least behind the rest of the world in their habits
and modes of life Tho travellers who pass this |
region in the early years of the new railway will
ind enough to rouse every palled sense in the |
primitive sights and sounds Of the wayside. The |
distance from Cons,antinople to Paris will be re-
dueed by at least twelve hours, and every effort |
viii be made TO give attraction TO the railway |
route in preference To the old routes by sea fhe |
political significance of the new line is not small,
Tor it places Austria at great advantage in case she
has 10 measure swords with Russia in some future |
phase OF the Bulgarian middle In fact, the Turks
seem to feel a deep dread of their railway. |
now that they have got it. The rails which are |
in contact with the rails of Europe, seem to be
already threatening to bring forward trains full |
Of troops. and the landward Notifications Of Con-
siantnople are being got ready for action IN
hot haste
One Of the changes which the Turkish Govern
ment is inclined to bring about when the new rail-
way - opened IS the overthrow OF the lOrelSn posi-
Offices IN Turkey. There is an English poStOfce
French postoiiice, an Austrian postoilice, and
haSslan To all OF these come by sea the closed
malls Of Europe and America, and the terrible
TREASON that may be brought into the Empire by
these means has long been an object OF solicitude
10 the Turkish police. Now that the swiftest mail
Will be railway mail, with its point of delivery
IL 'he hands Of the Turkish Government, the
authorities here propose TO prevent the passage OF
tne European mail sacks TO any foreign postolLce
Men must to have their letters and papers
subjected TO the Turkish censorship or 20 without
Them The solution of the problem Is, perhaps
not so easy as the Turks suppose, but there is no
doubt that the delay TO authorize the delivery OF
'he railway for traffic has some connection with
THIS problem