The evening times., 1896-12-09
SULTAN WILL Be COERcED
Russia, France and England
Have Agreed to Do 1t.
COMBINE OF GREAT POWERS
There VIII Be No Division of the
Turkish Empire, But Abdul Ham1d
VIII BE Made to Inaugurate He
forms or There VIII Be Great
Tragedy at Constantinople.

New York, Dec. "a special cable dis
| patch to the sun from London says:
The deadlock which has been the foulest
reproacii to modern civilization and TO tine
humanity of the age is broken at last. SO
| also is that conteinptible thing which the
world has known during the past year as
the concot of Europe.
In the place of buth-for they both mean
| the same thing-thcre has been created
new and living potentiallty, which, Wiiie
it will not undertake to avenge the ihno-
cent blood already shed, VIII speedily strip
the guilty of all further power OF outrage
and massacre.
The Turk is to be cOerccd.
The sultan is to be reduced in Iact, IL
not actually in name, to vassalage. HIS
fate will be made known to him probably
before the end OF the present week.
Russia, rance and Great Britain have de-
creed it, Should he resist or fail to bow
at once to the inevitable, then the COIN
bined fleets of those three powers Will
enforce their behest.
Such, in brief is the infinitely welcome
news which will bring relief and sense
of restored sclf-respect To the whole Chris
tian world
It is not officially announced yet. 1t may
even be discrcdited in certain quarters for
few hours premature. But 1t can be
affirmed, nevertheless, without reserva-
ton.
PLAN OF ACTION
1t was not until Yesterday that the full
contamination was reached. Russia, France
and Great Britain arrived at substantial
agreement or Il plan Of action last week,
There remained the necessity OF getting
the consent of the other three powers
which were siCnatorieS OF the Berlin con
yention. Italy and Germany agreed with
cut much demur.
i,tSf las tate long anil ii not
until after yesterdays emergency cab-
net counci, IN London, which discussed
and approved the whole plan, thai the
4 austrian ambassador notified Lord Salis-
bury OF the rather unwilling assent OF
his government that the Russian, French
and British fleets shall force the Darda-
nelIes if necessary in the execution Of the
new policy.
ltls impossible a I this moment to furnish
the exact details of the solution OF the
Turkish problem which has been agreed
upon. 1t may, however, be partially de-
fined III negative way.
1t provides nothing so radical as a
division or the Turkish empire. Such
project has not been for a moment con-
sidered The integrity OF Turkey Will be
substantially maintained. The terms of
the new policy have practically been die
tated by Russia.
1t came about finally that the English
and other representations brought home to
the cars government "a realization that
the policy of inaction, for which 1t is
chiefly responsible in the face of the ac-
cumulating horrors Of Turkish misrule had
become intolerable.
FORM OF INTERy ENTION.
Even French influence has been for
some time strongly III favor OF some form
of intervention. Russia eventually yielded
In principle but the discussion OF ways
and means has occupied nearly three
months There are two or three versions
in diplomatic circles OF the policy At last
decided upon.
This is one: That Russia shall OccSpy
the northeastern corner formed by the
BoSphorus and the Black Sea and extending
TO a point about half way down the BOs-
pnorus: that Consttntinople and the Darda-
nelleS shall be placed under European pro
tection, but shall remain under the rule
OF the sultan, the forts at the nardanellus
being di>rnantleJ nj the passage becoming
entirely free NofurtherChange il suggested
in regard to the integ1 ty OF the Turkish
empire"
This includes. also, European supcrvi-
sion Of some OF the sultan'S appointments
But believe this assumption Of virtual:
Russian domination is somew hat too sweep
ing Some such plan as that SAID to have
been advocated by NJ. NclidOff. the Rus
sian ambassador at Constantinople. who,
since the death of NJ. LUbanofr. is the ablest
ma n in the service of the ear with regard
to the eastern question.
TWO things may be confidently assumed
regarding the modus vivendi, or whatever
the new agreement between the powers
may toe termed.
First, that substantial guarantees of
good government for all the races in
Turkey shall be provided: second. that Rus
sa shall retain her practical mastery OF the
situation in the sultan's domains.
COMPELLING THE SULTAN.
The terms of agreement. about which
l have positive Information. do not seem
TO indicate an Intention to summon any new
conference Of the powers for the revision
OF the Berlin convention.
Russia. France and England have simply
agreed to compel the sultan to adopt rad-
cal reforms. under Joint supervision Of the
powers, and they have asked and obtained
the consent Of the other three powers to
the sending of the fleets of the new triufn-
virate through the Straits, il necessary
to enforce their demands.
Orders have already been given to the
British. Russian and French SquadronS in
the Levant to assemble at the cnt rance to
the Dardanelles. and to the Russian Elack
Sea fleet TO prepare TO cRterthe Bosphorus
in the event Of the SIltan'S failure to WELD
Observation-Disclosures to the formal demands
These demands are In the hands of Mr.
NeCldoff, who left st. Petersburg yes
terday for. Constantinople. He will con-
suit with the French and British am
basSadorS there Oh his arrival, and they
will make a joint representation to the
sultan with the least possible delay. What
the response will be is a matter of pure
conjecture.
If A abdul Hamid is in a sane mood, it is
to be expected he will submit with the
best grace possible If not, then there
may be final great tragedy at Constan-
tinople, which could not fail to compel a
more radical and permanent settlement
of the En- ern question tn an is contemplated
by the present agreement
The risk is very real one, and there is
no doubt that it has been take into consid-
Grafton under the terms of the new arrange
ment The contingency has been pro-
vided against, but how, has not yet been
made known.
o