The record-union., 1896-01-24


LONDON, Jan. pa dispatch from
Constantinople to the Pail Mall Ga
zette" says: An offensive and defensive
alliance has been concluded between
Russian and Turkey. The basis Of the
treaty is on the Unkiar Skelessi agree
ment. The treaty has been signed here
and ratification has been exchanged at
St. Petersburg.
M. Cambon, French ambassador to
Turkey. had an audience with the Sui
tan on January 21st, which lasted two
hours. This tends to show that France
is in all probability a member OF the
new alliance.
The Unkiar Skelessi agreement dates
back to 1888. and amounts to a reduc-
tion of Turkey to the position of vas
sal State. The treaty bound the Rus
sian and Turkish Governments to mu-
tuaily assist one another to resist for
eign aggression, and to help each other
in case of international dangers. Tur-
key was at the time of the conclusion OF
the agreement in a state of collapse.
Russia valves the matter of assistance
promised by Turkey, and receives in
stead permission in the event of Rus
danelles to warships of all nations. The
Western Powers refused to recognize
the treaty, which was soon tacitly
abandoned.
The Pail Mall Gazette guarantees
the reliability of the sources of informa-
ton of its representative at Constanti-
nople.
Dispatches received here show that
Sole tors
in Paris, Berlin and Vienna of an Of
fensive and defensive alliance having
been entered upon by Russia and Tur-
key. In some quarters the report is
characterized as ridiculous. Neverthe-
less, it is widely admitted that the re-
cent known exchange of communica-
tions between Russia and Turkey JUS
tify the expectation of some agree
ment between the two Powers.
A dispatch from Paris. which the
STANDARD will publish tomorrow,
says that inquiries made in that city
failed to prove knowledge in official cir
cIes of the existence of such an alliance,
but brought forth denial that il was
possible for treaty to be concluded on
the lines of the Unkiar Skelessi agree
ment, as that would imply an inevita-
BILE war.
The Berlin correspondent of the Daily
News says he finds an alliance is re-
garded as not improbable, which is con-
firrned by the Posts Berlin represen-
tative.
The Vienna correspondent of the
daily Telegraph says that the rumor
is nowise new, 1t having been in circu-
lation for some time in Vienna in vari-
n71H
that inquiries have resulted in the ex-
preston of a concensus of opinion that
no such treaty has been concluded, but
he further says that none is needed,
as the cordial, unstipulated agreement
between Russia and Turkey, based upon
mutual interests. is firmer and more
complete now than at any time since
the war of 1877.
The daily Graphic says the report
was received by a London daily paper
some weeks ago from Rome. Inquiries
failed to establish the truth of the dis
patch, and it was therefore suppressed.
TURKS AND ARMENIANS.
LONDON, Jan. 23.-The correspond
ent of the United Press at CONSTANT
nople telegraphs under date of January
22d, as follows:
stand that United States Minister Ter
rin has not received the assent of the
Porte to his pressing demands for the
admission of the American Red Cross
Society into Asia Minor for the pur-
pose of distributing relief to the suffer-
ing Armenians. The European En-
bassies in Constantinople have not rec
commended the work of the Red Cross
Society, and the British Embassy, find
ing that Russia objected to the So
ciety's undertaking the work of relief.
withdrew its encouragement.
"A telegram received here to-day
from Aintab says that the foreign Con-
suls who We're delegated to mediate be-
tween the Turks who are besieging Zei-
toun and the Armenians who are hold
ing the town. have arrived at Aintab.
Some of them had all their baggage
stolen en- route.
"A letter received here from Marash
says that the Turks have been severely
beaten and repuIsed. Near the hot
springs the commanding officer of the
Turkish soldiers placed the irregular
men in the front ranks and the reserves
next. As they were marching against
the Armenians a terrific explosion oc-
Cured and many of the soldiers were
blown to atoms. 1t is probable that
dynamite was used The Turks say the
flames suddenly burst from the earth
Other accounts confirm the surmise that
dynamite was used against the Turks.
They were caught in defile and large
number of them were killed. The Turks
afterwards succeeded in capturing the
barracks and cut off the water supply
from the Armenians.
The STANDARD" publishes dispatch
from Constantinople under date of jan
uary 22d, which says that the Turkish
Ministers assembled at a meeting Tues
day evening, the alleged occasion Of
which was the receipt by the Porte of
telegram from Shakir Pasha, the I'M
perial Commissioner appointed to carry
out the reforms in Armenia. reporting
that the Armenians are reduced to the
last extremity, and are being decimated
by hunger and cold. and are commit
ting revolutionary acts out of sheer de-
spair It is reported that the Sultan's
favorite Izzet has been directed to
formulate a reply to the letter written
to the Sultan by Queen Victoria. The
Porte has given out the information
that two Armenians believed to be
members of the Armenian Revolution
ary Committee have murdered the Ar
menian Bishop of Boghos.
BRAzIL'S POSITION.