The record-union., 1895-11-18
THE SITUATION IN THE FAR EAST.

The action of Austria in the matter
Of the demands upon the Sultan for re-
forms in its provinces has brought to
a head all movement by the Powers in
that direction. Austria broke the ice
and there will now be no more delay in
pressing upon the Porte the demand for
immediate correction of abuses in the
provinces.
It needed only that some one nation
of Europe should take the initiative,
and it makes no difference whether the
Emperor Of Austria was prompted, or
whether he acted of his own motion,
the effect will be to make the Powers a
unit in action. The fleets of warships
now assembling for the naval demon
stration in Turkish waters must re-
suit in the Sultan's people awakening
to the gravity of the situation. The
Sultan himself has probably been So
licitous to comply with the demands Of
the Powers, for he knows well enough
what they mean, but a naval demon
stration is necessary to break down the
opposition Of powerful classes OF his
people. AS the movement now is, Aus
t~ia France, England, Russia and
Italy and one of the smaller States
have the prows of their warships head
ed for the Bosphorus. Germany alone
has taken no step of like character.
Austrias proposition is rather sur
pris1ng, since there has never been ex-
pected from that quarter anything
quite so vigorous and original as the
suggestion now made by the Emperor
that the Sultan be deposed and
Prince raised to the throne who IS
pledged to introduce the demanded re-
forms. OF course this means that the
Powers should name that successor,
and, if they do, of course he viii be
man who will be under their thumbs
That would mean, without other pro-
vision, an immediate quarrel among
the Powers as to the management OF
agree upon who he shall be.
But Austria foresaw this difficulty
and adds to her suggestion the clause
that an international commission be
formed to superintend the inaugura-
tion of the reforms. But here arises an
other difficulty: Can the Powers be
brought far enough out of their ira
ditionaI jealousies to agree upon such
q commission; and if so. would they
abide by its decisions? Could there,
in other words be given any guarantee
that the commission would have CO.
hesive powers, and that it would have
the common support?
Here lie the difficulties, then, Of the
situation, for while ii may be accepted
that the initiative having now been
taken. stop viii be put to the out
RACES in Armenia and in other Turk
tsh dependencies, there will remain
doubt whether there can be given any
assurance of permanency of reforms
that may be instituted. Indeed, it
looks as if the duress under which it is
proposed to place the Sultan will lead
up to a wrangle that viii open up the
whole Eastern question" again. and
possibly bring on war.
But concerning this there is no
doubt. if the nations of Europe do not
act with immediate promptness, there
VIII presently be nothing for them to
act upon, so far as prosecuted Chris
tians are concerned. The advices of
Yesterday indicate that scheme of ex-
termination has been entered upon by
the Turk, or is being permitted by him,
and that ii will not take many more
weeks TO blot out all Christians who
dare to affirm that Christianity is their
fa.th. Such as are not being butchered
bv the five hundred at a killing are be-
ing driven to starvation and death in
the open country, their homes, schools
and churches are given tc the flames,
their business houses looted and their
contents carried off. The terrible mas
s.cres for instance, at Harpoot eclipse
IN horror anything in the history OF the