The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-25
A SERIOUS VIEW OF THE EASTERN
QUESTION TAKEN IN LON
DON.
1T ALL HINGES ON EGYPT.
1T THAT PROBLEM COULD BE SET
tiled PEACE WOULD BE AS
SURED.
BUT ONE POWER IS STANDING OUT
Otherwise n Plan for Making the
POrte's Next Struggle "a Final
Effort Is Prepared.

dispatches from Constantinople, an
nouncing that the imposition of a poll
tax OF five piastres per head and the
ley wing of other taxes in order to
arm the Mussulmans, has caused the
aspect, has increased the anxiety felt
fere regarding the outcome of the
Eastern inbroglio. The Speaker dis
cussing the matter says: THE new
war tax is a sign that the sultan means
t" fight, possibly after carrying out
the fresh massacres of Christians,
which are daily expected. The sick
man, we trust, is nearing his death
struggle. There is little doubt in the
public mind that an arrangement for
Joint European action exists and at
present it is only resisted by one
power
The Speakers well Informed Con-
stantinople correspondent however,
doubts the existence Of such an ar
rangement. A later dispatchh from
Constantinople says thai extra precau-
tons were taken yesterday against
a fresh Armenian outbreak, but no
outbreak had occurred at the time
Lett, who was British ambassador to
Turkey from 1867 to 1887, and whose
life has been spent in the diplomatic
service of Great Britain in an interest
ing bill just published says: 1.-THE
present state of Turkey greatly resem-
bles what 1T was Immediately before
the deposition of Abdul AZiz, when
there existed as now widespread dis
content, arising from the baneful in
fluence of the palace" Continuing,
Sir Henry Elliott urges that support
be given to the reform party in Turkey.
"As the whole empire he asserts,
needs a change Of administration, and
the sultan is more afraid of the young
Turks than Of the powers"
Indications generally point to the
Egyptian question as being the hinge
Of the situation, but there Is a renewal
OF it's discussion in the British and for
esgn press. The Times has published
a letter from the Right Hon. Leonard
II. Courtney, liberal, formerly deputy
speaker and now member of parlia-
nlent for the Bodmin division Of Corn
wall, suggesting the withdrawal of the
British troops from Egypt in order to
prove Great Britain's disinterestedness
IN the Eastern question, and M. De
BlOWftZ, the Paris correspondent of the
Times, today sends lengthy account
Of an interview with "a prominent pol
itician, who has twice been a minister
and who has returned from visits to
the capitals of Europe" In this in
terview the ex-minister IL quoted as
saying that he was struck by the facts
that no matter what international
question was discussed, it always re-
yerted to the situation in Egypt as the
leading factor. EGYPT he continues,
':s the paramount question, as pro-
longed peace depends upon Anglo
Russian reconciliation, which is only
possible through prior Anglo-French
agreement regarding Egypt. English
to want to show disdaln fo1. the cone
tinental powers. The British embassy
at Paris has been vacant for the past
three months, which In itself is
source Of misunderstanding. No power
wants to replace England in Egypt
but 1t is desired that England, instead
OF remaining there against our will,
should remain with our consent. M.
Hanotaux the French minister for
foreign affairs) once said to me-: But
for the Egyptian qestion, 1 would un-
certakc in few minutes to settle all
the other Anglo-Frencn question:
Baron de Courcet. the French min
wish that Lord Salisbury would agree
to converse on the subject; but so
soon as I attempt it. he changes the
subject. This is now the only real
cause for disquiet in Europe"
1t is announced that all the SOW
ereigns and chiefs of state have been
invited to visit London and attend the
fetes which are being organized for
the celebration Of the siXtieth ami
versary of the opening of the queens
reign, and 1t is stated that Emperor
William and the car have already ac-
cepted invitations. AS an indication
of the scale upon which the fetes will
be given, her majesty, in declining to
be present at the school board func-
ton, took the ground that the demands
which would be made upon her time
and powers in 1897 would preclude her
attendance at the ceremony referred
to-