San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-28
SPIKED THEIR GUN.
GERMANY AND NOT RUSSIA is BE-
HIND TURKEY.
How William Put His Finger on Russia
and France and England, and
The Sultan Stood Pat.

New York, Dec. 2S.-A special to the
World from Washington says: The
statement that n secret alliance eX-
lists between Germany and the Sultan
of Turkey is made in a letter from
Constantinople received by a promi-
nent official of the State department
The letter WIS written by one high
in authority in the Turkish govern
ment, and explains that the alliance
is for the purpose of thwarting Rus
sian and English encroachment in the
sultan's dominions.
The writer gives an insight into
present affairs in Turkey. After the
great powers had sent through their
ambassadors in Constantinople, to the
sultan, collective note insisting on
him giving reforms and a broad guar
antee in the future for the lives and
properties of his subjects, the eastern
question again became the great CEN
ter of European diplomacy. Pie sui
tan gave his promise. The Sublime
Porte entered upon the reforms with
a feverish energy which surprised all
Europe. GarrisonS We're established
on the outskirts of the empire and the
whole country was placed under a
practical military rule. The Sublime
Porte removed governors and lesser
officials with n dispatch astonishing
to those conversant with the usual
bewildering delays in eastern diplo-
macy. An amnesty was promised to.
ward Armenian prisoners, and over
1900 of them have already been set
at liberty.
England, France and Russia were
not, however. absolutely confident Of
| the sultan's perseverance in this work.
| Sir Philip Currie, the English ambas-
sador. intimated to the minister of
foreign affairs that England, although
pleased with what had already been
accomplished. was fearful that the
sultan would not be strong enough
| to insure the permanent enforcement
of the measures. 1t was therefore
desirable, he said, that those powers
which had the most vital interest in
| Turkey, namely. England, France and
| Russia. should have written negotia-
| lions on the subject. To agree TO this
proposal would mean that the sultan
tacitly consented to a protectorate
composed of these three powers. In
case she failed to fulfill her contract
| she would be virtually at the mercy
of the triumvirate. The Sublime
Porte was much disturbed by Sir Phil
| ip's visit and for a time it seemed
| that English diplomacy would win.
Suddenly the sultan assumed de-
| fensive attitude. Sir Philip was in
| formed that the Sublime Porte would
| continue the reforms on the lines
which had been laid down, that it
guaranteed absolute protection Of life
and property to all it's subjects, and
that any further assurance was deem
ed unnecessary. 1t is now generally
known in Constantinople, the letter
says, that Abdul Hamid acted on in
structions received from the German
government and no little chagrin is
felt among the supporters of the Eng
lish, Russian and French plans.
Diplomats, according to the writer.
are now recalling. that a year and a
half ago Emperor William, of Ger
many, visited the sultan at CONSTANT
| nOple and was received with eXtrav-
agant hOnors. 1t was limited then that
perhaps secret treaty had been form
ed between the two mOnarchs to pre-
vent both Russian and English en-
crOachments. The sultan, according
to the letter, while not yet completely
treasured that he would be left in
peaceful control of his domain with
the privilege of butchering the whole
empire if he so desired, is shrewd
enough to know that the powers of
Europe hate each other much more
than they hate him. The conclusion
of the letter is that mo matter what
happens the great Christian nations
cannot afford to become embroiled
with each other. Russia, least of all,
hemmed in as she is on all sides by
enemies, cannot afford the luxury of
war much as she desires it.
Statesmen here claim that in such
an event it would not be a question
of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Turkey, but
of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of Russia.