The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
REFORMS CANNOT
YET Be HAS TENED
Powers Interested in Tur-
key Await Action
by Russia.
Conference of M. Nelidoff at
Cons'antinople With the
Other ambassadors.
P ans to Subdue the Sultan Will
Fail Unless Coercion Is
Freely Used.

BERLIN, GERMANY, Dec. 19.-M. Neli-
doff, Russian EN- bassador to Turkey, who
has just re turned to Constantinople from
st. Petersburg, held to-day the first of the
conferences with the other EN- bassadors
which no is empowered by his Govern
ment to participate in with view of de-
termining the policy to be pursued by the
powers in the enfoi cement of reforms in
Turkey. If the proposals made by the
Russian Government through NJ. Neldoff
partook in any degree of the character of
coercion it is certain the Berlin Govern
nlent would be aware of it.
The fact, however. that Baron Saurma
Won Jeltsch, the German Embassador to
Turkey, was absent from the conference.
is sufficient to warrant absolute convic-
tion that the deliberations OF the initial
conference were by no means serious. All
that is known in Berlin in regard to the
matter tends to show the existence of a
very conclusive stage of negotiations, but
the plans discussed will doubtless be
pushed into a more complete and compre-
hensive shape at subsequent meetings of
the EN- bassadors.
NJ. Nelidoff has a scheme of reform of
Turkish finances and a reorganization of
the administration of the internal affairs
of the empire, to which Great Britain and
France fully assent, though the other
powers are less absolutely committed to
it. But Russia has not as yet suggested a
resort to armed coercion to enforce the
scheme. 1t is fact that every European
Government is fully aware that diplomatic
pressure upon the Sultan is useless unless
it be accompanied by menaces and physi-
cal force, and the powers therefore await
the initiative of Russia in the application
of coercive measures.
The latest utterances of the North Ger
man Gazette upon the Turkish situation
proves that Germany adheres to her old
attitude and contends that the Sultan
must not be threatened and no power
must be permitted to take measures tend
ing toward dismem berment of the Turk
ish empire. The financial scheme formu-
lated by NJ. Nelidoff is understood here to
involve the revision of the entire Ottoman
debt under guarantee of European powers
signatory to the agreement.
The plan also conte m plates the full con-
revenues, the allotment OF fixed sum for
the maintenance of the army and navy
and for the purposes of the Sultan's pri-
vate purse, and further provides that the
Sultan's appointment of his Ministers
shall be subject TO approval or veto by the
representatives, of tbs powers in Constan.
tinople. Germany has 10 interest in hast
ening events in the East and the diplo-
mats OF Berlin are therefore reticent as to
the situation; but the opinion is undoubr-
edly held in official circles that the confer
ence of En- bassadors will be futile unless
their onclusions are backed to the extent
of coercion.
Both the Reichstag and the Prussian
Landtag have begun their Christmas re-
cess after sessions which have been con-
spicuously void of useful lie egislation. In
the Reichstag it has often been difficult
and som etimes impossible to obtain a quo
rum and most of the Deputies have shown
the utmost indifference to their executive
duties.
The defeat of the Government on Tues
day upon the provision for a reform of
judicial procedure has nullitied two years
work in and out of committee in the con-
sideration of the Penal Code. The Gov
ernmenJ ascribes its defeat to the defec-
ton of the Centrists. but the minority
vatiye and National Liberals are included.
In commenting upon this analysis of the
vote the Freisslnige newspapers ask what
has become of the aiority which the
Government was supposed to have in the
Reichstag.
The assertion made By the Berlin Post
that it was the intention of the Govern
ment to resort to measures against the
importation OF American petroleum as an
act of reprisal for President Cleveland's
message to Congress of Dece ember reim-
posing tonnage duties upon vessels arriv-
ing in America from German ports by the
revocation OF the Presidents proc!ama-
ton of January 26, 1885, suspendlng such
duties, appears to be mere guesswork.
Inquiries made by representative of
the United Associated Presses have
elected the official opinion that no such
restrictions as alleged by the Post are
contem plated by the Government. The
Post, in its article on the subject, SAYS
that although Russia now supplies only
one-eighteenth OF the 900 100000 kilo-
grams of petroleum imported into Ger
many, the Americans are deceived if they
think Germans depend upon the United
States for the petroleum they consume.
This, however, is just where the Post
errs. Germany has too great need OF
American petroleum to debar its impor-
tation.
Hon. Edwin F. Uhl, United States EN-
bassador, Mrs. Uhl and David Il. Uhl of
Grand Rapids, Mich, eld st son of the
En- bassador, attended a concert at New
Palace 1T Potsdam this week. upon which
oceasiom the Kaiser con graduated Mr.. ana
Mrs. Uhl upon the occasion of the mar
riage of their daughter Lucy to Professor
Thompson of Yale University. Mr.. David
has started on his way home, sailing for
New York from Southampton to-day.
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