The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-30

CoNsTANTINoPLB. Nov. 29.-The pres-
ent situation remains critical, and the
crisis is expected within the next
t~wenty-four hours. The sultan, who
Is more thoroughly under the influence
Of the Palace party led by Izzet Bey,
'still declines to give hrmans applied for
by the representatives Of Great Britain,
Russia, Italy and Austria for the pass
age Of extra g%uardships through the
straits OF the Dardanelles. This is the
more extraordinary as on Tuesday
Tewfk Pasha, Turkish minister for for.
ei9n affairs, personally assured Sir
Philip Currie, the British ambassador,
that the porte had determined to grant
the request Immediately. 1t would thus
seem while tn Turkish ministers arc
apparently in favor of granting the fir.
mans, the Palace party" Wallets,
priests, c~hamberlains and eunucks who
are the official advisors of Abdul Hamid
are opposed to 1t as calculated to lower
the dignity of the sultan.
In the meantime the Mussulmans are
growing uneasy, looking upon the
threatened advent of the extra guard
ships as nothing less than q warlfke
demonstration before Constantinople.
This Is q dangerous feature of the affair
aud is adding to the anxiety felt on all
sides. In spite Of the threatened storm,
however, the sultan continues in his re-
fusal to issue the frmans, and has
given an evasive reply to the British
ambassador and other foreign repre-
sentatives on the subject. But Sir Philip
Currie, who was assured by Tewhk
Pasha that the frmans would be forth
coming, promptly telegraphed to the
commander Of the British Mediterranean
squadron, instructing him to dispatch a
Runboat to the Dardanellos to be used in
the Bosphorus as an extra guardship at
the disposal OF the British embassy.
AS g result q screw torpedo boat of
1,070 tons was dispatched to the Dar-
danelles, and Is ted to pass righs
on to the Bosphorus. The failure of the
porte to grant permission for the pass
age OF the straits of the D%ardanelles
thus puts Sir Philip Currie in a some
what embarrassing position. The sui
tan IL known to be in great agitation
from the news that the British gunboat
ia heading for the Dardanelles on The
strength OF the assurance given the
British ambassador by the minister of
foreign affairs. and, as 8 consequence,
the position of Tewik Pasha has not
been q pleasant one The latter was
sent for. and in the interview bitterly
reproached for his part in the matter.
Ihe sultan insists hat IL was impos-
sible to Issue the lrmaps, as 1t would
cause rioting, and added that the powers
should be content with the measures
taken by the government to maintain
order and not hamper the authorities by
making q demonstration likely to undo
all the good he ia endeavoring to do.
The sultan instructed the pasha to do
everything possible to induce the British
Ambassador to countermand his order
for the %gunboat. Sir Phillip, however,
refused to do 30. saying that he was
tired OF being tri1ed with, and reminding
his visitor that Great Britain was acting
entirely within her treaty rights, and
upon the assurance of a responsible
member of the Turkish government the
porte had decided to grant the permits
sion for the extra guard boats to pass
the D~ardenelles. TIE Wfk Pasha returned
to the palace in very unenviable frame
OF mind and gave notice Of the failure
OF his mission to the sultan. The latter
is said to have been enraged and drove
Tewfk from his presence with fercs
revilings.
The state councillor. Said Pasha, who
ia supposed to have some influence with
Sir Phillip Currie. was thereupon hur-
riedly SEM for and urged to use every
effort to induce Sir Phillip Currie to
change his order. Sir Phillip finally
consented to leave the whole matter
once moro to his WI country and await
further instructions He ia said to have
carte blanche as to what stops he thinks
Is necessary to take with the sultan.
The British ambassador 10 awaiting a
reply from London. As before this re-
quest the Marquis of Salisbury acted
upon the understanding that nothing
Is to be done while the sultan is engaged
in the work of maintaining order, he
may instruct Sir Phillip to direct the
ommander OF the boat not to en.er the
DardanelleB at present.
The little news here from Asiat!c Tur.
key only tends to make the situation
look blacker. The rebellion continues,
and there 10 no doubt that the rebellious
Druses will have to submit to a heavv
reckoning with the Turks. The flames
OF q holy war, always smoulderipg
among the Mussulmsns, are being dan
gerouBly famed, and will in time burst
forth Into g confagration, which will
compel all Europe to take o hand In
saving the lives and property of many
thousands Of almost helpless Christians.
A stray shot, q sharp blow, may explode
the powder magazine which the weak.
minded Abdul Hamid has been irving 40
long to save.
The ambassadors' troubles in this clty
can be only averted by an extra show Of
force here and that in any case REIN
forcements are necessary to insure the