The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-15
SULTAN SCORES SALISBURY.
RUSSIA THE ONLY POWER HE
BOWS TO IN FEAR. >

Great Britain Looked Upon ms Impo-
tent and Her Blow and Buster
Brings no Real Results In the Way
of RefOrms-EngIand Not Believed
to Have Had Much influence In
the SO-CaIled Concert of the
Powers.
London, Nov. Notwithstanding the
fact that the sultan has promised to exc
cute sweeping reforms throughout his do
minions, his promises are still looked at
askance by those here who have had ex-
perience of his artfulness and lack of good
intention, and this in spite of the fact that
orders have already been given for the
putting into effect Of some of the reforms
promised. The jubilation among the news
papers over the restoration of the concert
of the powers, which 1t is claimed here is
responsible for the pressure brought to
bear upon the sultan and compelled him
to grant the reforms, may be short lived.
Cynical observers of the situation do not
place much faith in the claims that Great
Britain had prominent part in the con-
cert. They maintain that Russia, acting
through France. is the country that de-
serves the credit for forcing the sultan to
understand that he must mend his ways
and do something besides making promises
that he never intends to fulfill If this is
really the case there is lots of room to
doubt that there will be a radical change
in the Turkish policy, for Russia is really
the only power of which the sultan
stands in fear. Great Britain may blow
and buster. but the ruler of Turkey well
knows that she is utterly impotent to do
anything more than make threats and
she is not threatening now as much as she
did a year ago. Russia, however, IS
different matter She has done no threat
ening and for that reason the sultan knows
she is all the more dangerous. OF course,
It hurts British pride to know that Russia
acting through France, has been able to
accomplish more with the sultan than has
she. Turkeys self-constituted protector
and it may be that it is this feeling Oh In
iurv that leads official circles here to be-
iieva that what England could not accom-
ni,sh will be impossible for France. But
the fact remains that it was to M. Hano-
ta1lx the French foreign minister, that
the sultan promised the granting OF re-
forms more sweeping in their nature tnan
those promised to Great Britain months
ago. not one Of which was ever put into
erect. and that already some Of these last
nromised reforms are now being carried
ont Time alone will tell whether the
sultan is now honest in his professions, but
n II be true that Russia is prodding him
the chances are that he will have TO De
honest inspite of his own desires.
The cabinet councils. arranging the gov
eminent legislation for the coming sea-
con have decided upon opening business
with the education bill. followed by mil
itary works bill, and an elaborate measure
dealing with the appointment or
masters and workmen's Cancellation board
The military works measure was pre-
pared for last year, but was postpoheu'
| owing TO the exigency Of the parliament
tarv situation. Its proposals VIII attract
| the attention of the European govern
merts concerned in the rapid progress OF
| English ornaments for both offensive ana
| defensive purposes. Military harbors IN
| Great Britain are to have their arma-
rnents increased and the works at malta,
| Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Singapore ana
other stations are to be enlarged ana
strengthened. Conjoined with this mill
| tarv works bill is a scheme for aidlns the
colonial governments in the protectloh OF
their barbors. The government VIII ASK
the house to vote supply for a first part OF
this military works bill before the ehd OF
the current fiscal year.