The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-01
BRITAIN BACKS DOWN
ITS ASSAD0R WiTTDRA - :
HIS DEMAND FOR EXTRA
GUARD SHIPS.
AND THE SULTAN is TRIUMPHANT

i0uS Lts snts.Many CONSIDER IL OHis
LuII in the Storms Re ported that the
British ship has Passed the Darda-
nelies and been Fired Upon from he
Turkish Forts.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 20, via So
fla, Nov. 30.-After all the warlike talk
cf yesterday the British ambassador,
Sir Philip Currie, has backed down,
and the Sultan and his palace advisers
are triumphant.
The British gunboat Dryad, ordered
from Salonica Bay by Admiral Sir
Michael Culme-Seymour, the comman-
der of the British Mediterranean
squadron, with the request of Sir
Philip Currie, after the latter was as
sured on Tuesday last by Twefil Pa
sha, the Turkish minister for foreign
affairs, that the Porte had decided to
grant the frmans allowing the extra
gusrdship required by the representa-.
tives of the powers here to pass the
Dardaneiles, has been ordered back to
Saloniea.
This is, to the diplomatic corps,
quite an unexpected denouement of a
situation which had assumed q most
dangerous aspect, and the general
opinion is that the powers have been
placed in a somewhat ridiculous posi-
tion. Following the repeated threats
of forcing the passage of the Darda-
nelles If the Sultan persisted in cefus-
ing to allow the extra gunboats to en-
ter the Bosphorus, this looks very
much as if Abdul Hamid and his adj
visers, who are well informed when
they persisted on holding out against
the demands of the representatives of
Great Britain, Russia, Italy and AUS
tria for additional guardships, believ-
ing that they were justified in SO doing
on the ground that the powers are not
in accord, as SO frequently claimed
and officially stated, and that the dis
senting powers were behind Abdul
Hamid in the stand he has taken.
Said Pasha yesterday succeeded in
getting the British Ambassador to re-
fer the Dryad matter to his govern
ment. There was some delay, as
stated III these dispatches yesterday,
in obtaining reply to the message to
Lord Salisbury and this caused re-
port to be spread among the Turkish
officials that Great Britain would not
do anything calculated in any way TO
hinder the efforts of the Sultan to re-
store order and put in force the re-
forms advocated by the powers, and,
therefore, in view of Abdul Hamid's
strong objections, the demand for the
extra guardships would not be carried
to the extreme of forcing the passing
of the Dardanelles.
This seems to be the outward aspect
of the recall of the Dryad; but behind
all this is the fact THAT it has been estab-
the recall of the Dryad; but behind all
this is the fact that it has been estab-
lished that the palace people have been
for some time past exciting the Mus
sullnan population here with hints
that the demand of the powers for an
extra guaTdships meant nothing more
than Il naval demonstration before
ConstantinopIe. and that this wonld be
an insult to the Sultan and to the Nus
sulmans throughout the world Tins
steady working gradually infiamed
the Turks and serious outbreak was
brewing here and it is alleged at the
instance Of the palace manipulators-
The embassies were kept we'll inform
ed of what was going on and il IS prob
ahlv due to the knowledge that the adj
vent OF the extra guardshlps IN the
Bospiorus would be the signal for an
outbreals here directed against all Tor
eipners aud Christians which caused
the government of Great Britain to IN
struct Sir Philip Currie TO order the
Dryad BACK to Salonica.
But It is claimed in diplomatic car
cies this does not end the incident ana
it is only temporary withdrawal
which viii be followed at a more OPP
perfume moment by the insistence OF
the powers upon the observance o.
their treaty rights which they contend
allow them 70 have the extra guard
ships for their embassies. Even II TINS
be true. it seems to show that the sur
tan and his advisors have once more
trumphed over the representatives OF
the powers since the latter were OIL
cially announced to be in complete ac-
cord as to the drastic measures TO oe
taken toward Turkey.
There is another feature of the affair
which is not lost sight of here and that
is that the withdrawal of the Dryad
NAV mean that the European concert
is broken and that the jealousies of the
powers have been too strong 10 allow
af the Joint action in the East even in
the face of tales of horrors and blood
shed. fire and famine, which have
COiUt uAllN liolS HNSiSbi|
months past.
As an explanation OF the backdown
of the powers, ii is pointed out that
after Sir Philip Currie yesterday, re-
oeived the reply to his message to the
Marquis of Salisbury he made per
ssnal call upon the Sultan at the Yil-
diz Kiosk, ard for two hours and half,
Abdul Hamid and the British ambaS-
sador remained in close and earnest
conversation.
The situation was viewed between
them The Sultan again called Sir
Philips attention TO the efforts he was
making 10 restore order in AsiatiC
Turkey, offered proof that the work ol
reform was a. fully inaugurated ~
circumstances would permit, prom
ised that everything possible would b,
done to put down the rising in syria
etc, without unnecessary bloodshed
and last, but not least, Abdul Hamit
referred to the danger of an outbreak
at Constantinople and elsewhere II h'
was humiliated to the extent of havint
his power scorned in the eyes OF thu
Mussuman world.
Sir Philip listened to all the repre-
sentations of the Sultan, backed 3,
the statements Of Said Pasha and othe
II.