New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
NOT TILL AFTER THE FEAST.
ABDUL HANDS, COOL REPLY TO
THE POWERS
NOT READY TO DISCUSS PEACE PROPOSALS
UNTIL THE GREATER BAIRAM HAS PASSED
NOT READY Z


MEANING OF THE FESTIVAL
London. May 15.-The sultans reply to the
more OF the Ambassadors at Constantinople, Of
lering mediation, saying he would be ready to
discuss the matter after the Greater Baram
festival. which ends on Sunday night justifies
the fears that the Powers have drawn a genIi
out OF the war. and It will not be so easy TO
get him back. Abdul Hands answer is cool
almost to the point Of insolence 1t Is that Of
sovereign with powerful army behind him. and
ne Is disposed to treat the Powers cavalierly.
Articles published In the semi-ofiical press
Of the Continent show that this increase In the
prestige Of the Sultan is the chief concern Of
the European Cabinets, and the prospects OF
an effective enforcement Of general reforms
for the Turkish Empire are thereby relegated
TO the very distant future.
The journal des Debats' declares that the
result Of the war has been to place Turkey In
O position she has not held for the last half
century. adding: Her tremendous military-ef-
fort is largely In excess OF what the struggle
against Greece required 1t was dore to refute
the allegation Of decreptitude and to demonstrate
to the Sultan's own subjects and to those Of the
smaller States and to the great Powers that
Turkey is able to hold her own against other
dangers than a war with Greece
The British Russian and Austrian newspapers
echo these remarks, and it is generally felt
that this fact will have to be reckoned with
in the negotiations upon the conditions of peace.
Meanwhile the postponement OF the Sultans re-
ply until after the Greater Bairam Festival is
interpreted as meaning that the Sultan intends
his army to continue its victorious advance
until every strategic point on the Othrys Noun
tain range Is in the hands Of the Turks, and
thai only then will Edhem Pacha receive orders
10 stop fighting. The resumption or nShtlnS
by the Greeks in Eprus is regarded as foolsh
move and only furnishes Turkey with plausi-
BILE motive for refusing an armistice. ii also
binders the progress of the peace negotiations;
The Chancelleries are also occupied with the
difficult problem of how Greece will pay the war
indemnity which Turkey seems certain 10 de-
mand. NJ. Delyanns, the former Greek Premier
in his newspaper sanguinely argues tEat Greece
cannot be expected to pay an indemnify De
cause the Turks declared war officially without
provocaton." This view Of the question IS not
shared elsewhere, and an international com
mission 10 administer the finances or Nreece
on the lines of the similar Turkish Commls-
sion. is mooted. The Greek Commission Wouia'
it is proposed. sit at Athens, and take over the
Greek customs for the service or the EreeN
debt and possibly for the war indemnity
The Feast % Baira H. the observance OF which
IS given as one reason for the Suitans retusaI 10
consider final peace negotiations. is not Soieinh
religious festival but one OF rejoicing and merry
dents editorial staff who spent several years IN
Turkey said that the feast bears strong resen-
bance 10 the Easter festivities Of the Greeks ana
Armenians. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday aIter
Lent are the most important days in the Greek
year. and while Sunday Is a day or prayer the
two following days are devoted 10 rejoicing ana
festivities The Turkish Bairam is also three
days feast and follows Ramazan, when Is
season Of devotion and prayer. During Ramazan
a whole lunar month no Mussuiran may eat. drink
or smoke I'm the daytime, and the most oftHocoN
deem IL a sin 10 swallow their saliva
According to their laws soldiers, travellers aiu
many others are exempt. But those VINO observe
the Ramazan faithfully naturally regolGe III
the advent of Bairam, with its feasting ana pleas
ures During the three DAYS which 1t lasts mere
are OF a jXful nature and largely attended
business is entirely suspended and the time oil peo
pie OF all classes is given UP 10 sports feasts ana
all kinds of entertainments II is also the only tlme
in the year when the Moslem makes rejoicing
duty. $1,000
Among the many ceremonies is great process
sion in which the Sultan takes part, and In the
course of the feast he receives the dgnitaries OF
his country and those who are accredited 10
his court. -,
''The feast Is observed to such an extent. said
Dr. Bliss, that one has difficulty in sending a
telegram. and the working hours in the postal ana
other Government offices are greatly reduced IL
is ONLY reasonable that the Sultan should defer
transacting business until after the feast OF Baram
because attention diplomatic affairs In that time
would be considered there In the same hsht as a
Fourth Of July session OF Congress here.
"While the three days feast is looked forward to
with pleasure by most people. there are many who
are always anxious and apprehensive because the
religious fanatics have at times CHOSEN that oc-
sion for the preparation OF excuses But nothing
of that kind has taken place for many years.