New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
SOLVING TURKEYS PUZZLE.
PROPOSALS MADE BY RUSSIA PROBABLE
NOT OF A COERCIvE NATURE.

MUCH SPECULATION AS TO TIE OUTCOME OF TIE
CONFERENCE OF THE AMBASSADORS OF THE
POWERS HELD IN CoNsrANTINoPLE-NEri
porFs SCHEME FOR FINANCIAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE REOEG hNIZATIoN.
RcrIin. Dec in. NclidoT. Russian Ambas-
sador TO Turkey, who has just returned To Con-
stantinoplc from ST. Petersburg. held to-day the
first Of tho conferences with the other Anhassa-
dors which he Is empowered ny his Government
N narticipate in with view ~ determining the
policy to be pursued by the Powers in the on
forcor1ent Of reforms in Turkey. If the propo-
sails made by the Russian Government through
NJ Nclldoff partoOk In any degree OF the charac-
ter Of coercion. with a view of compelling the
Sultan to enforce the promised reforms IL IL
certain that the Berlin Government would be
aware Of IT, The fact, however. that Baron
Won Saurma Jcitsch the German Anhaasau"'
TO Turkey was absent from the conference, -
sufficient to warrant absolute conviction that the
deliberations Of the initial conference w"r" hv
no means serious. All that IS known IN Horlin III
regard to the matter tends To show the existence
Of an inconclusvc stage Of the negotiations but
the plans discussed will doubtless be pushed into
a more complete and comprehensive shape at
subsequent meetings Of the Ambassadors.
NJ Nedoff has a scheme for the reform al the
Turkish finances and reorganization Of the
administration OF the internal affairs OF the En-
pire. 70 which Great Britain and France fully
assent. though the other Powers are less apso-
lutolv committed TO II. But Russia has not ~
yet suggested a resort TO armed coercion 70 en-
force the scheme despite the fact that every
European Government is fully awar" that diplo-
matte pressure upon tn" Sultan Is useless unless
Il be accompanied 10y mcnaces II physical force.
and the Powers continue 10 await The initiaiiv"
OF Rsssa In the application 81 cocrciNe measures.
The latest uitcrancc 81 the North German Ga
zet,e" upon the Turkish situation proves that
Germany adhercs 70 her old attitude ana con
tends that the Sultan must not be- Threatened
and no Power must bc permitted To take meas
urcs tending toward the dsm"mherm"nt II the
Turkish Empire.
The financial scheme formulated by NJ. Sell
doT Is understood here 10 involve the revision
Of the entire Ottoman debt under guarantee
Of the European Tow ~ signntory u the agree
ment. The plan also contemplates the iuI con
troll Of the Powers over tn, Turkish revenues
with the allotment ~ AXcd SUN for the main
tcnancc OF the army and navy and for the pur-
roses Of the Sultan's prvy purse. and further
provides that the Sutans appointment ~ his
Ministers shall be subject to IN" approval or
veto OF tho r. 'S'ntdilNfS tl the ibNfl0 aH
Constantinoulc. Germany has no Interest in
fastening events in the East. and the oiiioiai
portion o. Berlin is therefore. rrtlc'nt IN I"-
gard 10 the situation. but tn" opinion rs un-
doubtodlv held in official circles that the confer
crCcs of the Ambassadors viii be futile unless
their conclusions ere backed TO the extent Of
coercion.
London. Dec. lo.-Thcre has been no lcssening
Of interest IN political circle, REGARDING the
Turkish question. but so far as known there has
lccn no change in the situation since the re-
turn to Constantinoplc from ST. Petersburg of
NJ Nclid0n the Russian Ambassador The only
authentic news that has reached the Foreign Of
fee here is that Immediately after his arrival
H. Constaniinopls NJ Nelidofr visited NJ. Cam
bon. the French Ambassador and Sir Philip
Curric the British Ambass ador. formal re-
ception was aftcrvard given him by the Sultan.
The subject of their conversation has not be-
come known: but it is known that the Anglo
russian proposals were not mentioned to His
Majesty. Thcse Will not he laid before the sui
tan until after n conference between the Am
lassadors of the six great powers. Great Brit
ain Russia. France. Germany. Austria and
Italy In tho mean time all tho Ambassadors
are opposed 10 "A policy Of force. Th~ negofia-
tons between the Powers to the method Of
enforcing their demands upon the Sultan
still pending. and it is scarcely possible that
any practical solution will be arrived at until
after the Christmas holidays