The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-12
GRANTING OF THE FIRMANs.
The sultan Induced to Issue the Trade
by Russia's EN- ba ssador.

The Sultan Induced to Issue the Trade
by Russia's Em ba ssador.
Copyright, 1896, by the Associated Press)
CONSTANTINOPLE. Dec. 10, via Sofia.
Bulgaria, Dec. 1.-THE two incidents which
have constituted the center of sensational
interest, namely, the refugee Of Kustcnuk.
Said Pasha, ex-Grand vizier, in the British
embassy and the refusal of the Sultan to
grant the firmans for the passage through
the Dardanelles OF the additional guard
ships demanded by the powers. are prac-
tically relegated 10 history through their
settlement by the return of Said to his
own residence and by the final granting or
the firmans by the Sultan. How unim>
portant these incidents were in themselves
is indicated by the fact that the tense con-
dition Of the public mind is not abated by
their closing. and the watchful game of
diplomacy Is seen to go on much as before
The intimate connection of the peace OF
Europe with the fate of the Turkish empire
is not to be forgotten, nor is it TO be lost
sight OF that this peace is dependent, as it
has been for the past eighteen years, on the
accord Of the great powers as to the meth
ods and limits of the coercion which shall
be exercised on the ''sck man Of Europe"
How great labor and stress is necessary
to the maintenance of this accord has been
indicated by the long-drawn-out conduct
of the guard ships incident. the Sultan re-
fusing to concede single step volun>
tarily and leaving the powers to their own
resources to patch up their complicated
jea,ousies and conflict OF interests before
an agreement could be reached TO unite in
demand on the Sultan. The outrages
upon the Armenian Christians seem to be
receding into the background, except as
they constitute the technical case on which
the powers base their action at interna-
tional law for the settlement Of larger
questions.
The visit of NJ Nelidoff to the Sultan on
Sunday and his prolonged audience with
him seems to have settled in his mind at
last that. on the question of the guard
ships, at least, the powers were In accord.
1t developed that NJ. Nelidoff assured the
Sultan that unless the firmans for the
present an ultimatum on the subject to the
Porte. NJ. Nelidoff then appealed to him,
In behalf of the Car. to ooyiate e the e, neees>
This, from Russia, evidently convinced the
Sultan that his game OF delay was up.
said's return to his own house was made i'd
British ambassador, accompanied by the
chief dragoman of the embassy. On the
same evening that he returned the secret
police that had been watching the embassy
were withdrawn. Said Pasha wrote Sir
Philip Currie a letter of thanks in which he
said that after Iforty-three years in the
public service and five in the position OF
Grand Vizier, his health was broken and
he was unable again to accept the office OF
Grand Vizier. He then mentioned the writ
ten assurances. Finally, as Said's request
to leave the country was still ungranted,
and as he felt bound to attest his apprecia-
tion of his sovereign's personal assurances
he returned to his own house, the Sultan
consenting to grant his wish to be un-
employed in an official post and to enjoy
Complete rest and liberty. Sir Philip Currie
has reiterated the latter'S desire on behalf
Of the British government. 1t is still feared
however, that Said Pasha will suffer from
palace intrigues.