The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-18
WILL THE POWERS INTER
FERE THIS WEEK?
England Would Like to Have Uncle
Sam Fire the First Shot.
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE Is SAID TO
BE PRACTICALLY DEAD.

BE PRACTICALLY DEAD.
| A1armist Views From An Italian States
man-English Ships Will Not Appear at
Constantinople Alone-The Turkish
View OF the Situation-Eight Hundred
Armenians Killed at Sivas--What Will
the End Be?
New York, November ia London
Special to the Sun says: The reports from
Constantinople for the past five days have
been most confii citing. All those from
English sources, including the corre-
spondents of the London papers, have
been of the gloomiest description. On the
contrary those received from Paris and
Berlin have been much more hopeful.
There has been tendency from the be-
ginning of the crisis to paint the situa-
tion in the blackest colors in this
country. The truth may justify this
view. The belief is certainly widespread,
both in England and Italy, that the
powers will actively interfere by means
of their united fleets within the next few
days.
This eventuality has been thoroughly
discounted in the stock market and else
where, and the effects of such move
are not likely to be serious in financial
centres.
1t is impossible to regard without some
suspicion, however, the English argu-
ments, which amount almost to public
clamor, in favor of immediate inter-
ference. Thus the Times today winds up
pessimistic, even hopeless. leader upon
the Turkish situation with the words.
s'We can only say that all the elements
of an explosion are present and that the
sparks may fall among the powder atssany
moment There is no time to be lost if
the intervention of Europe is to remove
this permanent source of peril to the
peace of the nations"
The questio which the continental
countries will ask is, Does such language
represent public demand upon British
government, or is it an attempt on the
part of that government to create the
4 necessary public support of it's policy of
immediate intervention?
1t has been assumed In some quarters
that United States ships of war will
participate in the naval demonstration
which il expected to take place about a
week hence. Ii has been suggested-apd
the wish is certainly father to the thought
that the danger to American mission
aries may induce the United States to
take the first overt action, which is all
that is necessary to secure = the downfall
| of the Turkish government in Europe. A
| display of force by the two American
vessels now en- route to Leyant waters
would solve the problem in the manner
that England would like to see it solved.
There would be no more hesitation on
the part of any of the Powers if the
United States, which is the only govern
ment having no selfish interests involved,
would take the responsibility even of.pro-
tecting its own citizens. The diplomatic
position in Italy is becoming more and
more interesting as the moVemen6 gains
strength in favor of deserting the Triple
| Alliance in favor of partnership with
England There is much significance in
| the following words, spoken this week by
Senator Visoonti Vensti, formerly Italian
Minister of Foreign Affairs:
''The situation in Europe now is more
serious than at any moment since 1870.
The actual position is most critical. If
European war be averted, it will be only
by miracle. The diplomatists have
done very little to save us from the
danger of a general confagration. The
great Powers show no anxiety save to
prepare for war, and obtain each its share
4 IL Nj, T.,
yet ventured to take overt action, because
uncertain as to the course that others
would follow, but all are pressing for
ward so determinedly that the prospect Of
war is becoming each day more certain.
If anything would make the more bellig-
erent of these Powers hesitate in their
course it would be the Triple Alliance,
but this alliance gives no sign of life
One may even say that it exists no
longer.
''The Triple Alliance was formed for
the maintenance of European peace. Yet
at this moment when peace, for the first
time, is seriously meanced, it says and
does nothing Nay, more, each allied
power is acting according to its in
ambitions. What this means Is only too
clear to me. II Europe should get ont OF
it's present difficulties others will follow.
perhaps more serious with the Triple
Alliance dissolved and the European
equilibrium thus toppled over. The great
Powers feel bound to increase the
armaments, and that will inevitably
tend to light the way to general war
more terrible than anything with Which
we are threatened today.
''We place our reliance ON England, the
only sincere friend of Italy. 1t is our
duty to preserve that friendship jealousy.
and every Italian should earnestly wish
continued power and prosperity to our
good friend and honest ally. As to our
other so-called allies we must leave them
to their destinies.