The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10

OF obtaining the same end, that if it were
preferred the present Mohammedan ma
chlnery should continue and be supervised
by mixed commission The demands of
the Embassies were substantially that a
proportional number of Christian en-
ployes should be added to the executive of
the provinces containing a large number
of Armenians.
He did not contend that his proposal
was the better. The Sultan preferred the
other proposal and this naturally fell to
the ground. The reason that he preferred
to be rid of his proposal to substitute
Christian for Moslem officers was his great
horror of the powers appearing in these
cases as partisans of one religion rather
than another. Continuing, Lord Salisbury
said:
81 should have been glad if our pro-
posals could have divested the negotiations
of any appearance of impartiality and
could have assured our Moslem fellowship
jects, who are among the most loyal and
orderly subjects of the Queen, that they
may rely upon the Imperial Government
being absolutely impartial. With regard
to the result of the negotiations if the re-
forms are carried into effect they would
give the Armenians every prospect that a
nation could desire-prosperity, peace
justice and safety to life and property.
But will they be carried out? If the Sui
tan can be pursuaded to give justice to the
Armenians it will not signify what the ex-
act nature of the undertaking may be. If
he will not heartily resolve to do Justice to
them the most ingenious constitution that
ha will
assist the Armenians.
Only through the Sultan can any real
permanent blessings be conferred on his
subjects. What if the Sultan is not per-
suaded? I am bound to say that the news
reaching US from Constantinople does not
give much cheertulness in that respect.
You will readily understand that I can
only speak briefly on such matter. 1t
would be dangerous to express the opin-
ions that are on my lips, lest they iniure
the cause OF peace and good order, which
above all things l have at heart.
But, supposing the Sultan will not
give these reforms, what is to follow? The
first answer l should give is that above all
treaties, all combinations Of the powers, in
the nature of things is providence God,
if you please to put it so, has determined
that persistent and constant misgovern-
ment must lead the Government
which follows it to it's doom, and
while 1 readily admit that it is
quite possible that the Sultan, If he likes,
can govern with justice and can be per-
suaded, he is not exempt any more than
any other potentate from the law that IN
justice will bring the highest on earth to
ruin. 1t is not only the necessary action
OF the law of which l speak on which we
may rely. There is the authority OF the
great powers. Turkey is in the remarka-
bic position that she has stood in for half
a century, mainly because the powers re-
solved that for the peace of Christendom
she should so stand. The danger is that
if the Ottoman Empire fails it would not
be merely danger that would threaten its
territory. 1t would be the danger that that
fire there lit would spread to other nations,
involving all that is most powerful and
civilized in Europe in dangerous conflict"