The San Francisco call., 1897-02-08

conferences, will be authorized in pre-
senting the Sultan with the proposals of
the powers to inform the Turkish Sui
tan that the powers are prepared to en-
force their acceptance and operation. In
regard to the extent or character or the
method of applying the coercion meas
ures, however, nothing has been decided
upon.
a pretty good idea of the situation may
be gathered from the utterance of the
Vossische Zeitung, in which an article on
the subject says:
The greatest task of the powers will
only begin when the question is forced on
them; that long time will yet elapse
before the protocol. after being approved
by each of the Governments concerned in
its formulation, goes through the formal
diplomatic course OF presentation to the
Porte. This formality having been one
through with the proposals will be pre-
sented to the Sultan by his Ministers, and
they will be certain to be referred back to
the En- bassadors. throughout prolonged
process of examining of communications
extending until 1898 unless events in the
meantime shall scatter the Sultan's plans
and compel the powers to play each its
own game. The plain truth is that now,
as before the so-called concert, the powers
are insincere and do not intend to take
concerted action in the matter of coercion,
and the Sultan knows that they do not"
Since the return of Baron Marschall Won
Biebersteln from recuperating in Switzer-
land his old political opponents have re-
opened their campaign against him and
much on the old lines. He has been &C
cused of influencing the Kaiser in renew
ing the tension of relations with Prince
Bismarck, inciting him against Count
Herbert Bismarck and trying to divert the
imperial policy generally towards favoring
the Anglo-Austrian rather than the Rus
sian policy in the East.
The Bisinarckian papers, however, at
tribute great deal more power to Baron
Marschall than he possesses. His influ-
ence with the Kaiser is simply that of a
State servant who suggests little, but can
be relied upon TO follow out his instruc-
tons. Last of all would he dare to make
suggestions which could be suspected OF
personal bias. A gauge of his position
may be taken from the fact that at the
recent conference between the Kaiser.
Count Murayieff and Prince Hohenlohe
the Baron MarschalI had no conspicuous
place.
The Hamburg Correspondent, Baron
Marschali's organ. explains the absence
of the foreign minister from the dinners
given in honor of Count Muravieff by the
Imperial Chancellor. Prince Hohenlohe,
and the Russian ambassador, by saying
that his digestive organs, which have re-
Gently been affected, were TOO weak to
justify him IN undergoing the ordeal of
banquet. He made his appearance at
these reunions however, after the dining
was over. His speaking form in the
Reichstag, when he defended his course in
the prosecution of Baron Won Luetzow
ana his fellow libelers. was amia ble. but
his face showed some traces of illness at
the conclusion of the effort. The impress
sion left by Count Muravieff is distinctly
that of friend ship toward Germany. He
seems 10 have no authority from the Gar
to go further than g general expression OF
friendliness.
The appointment of several socialists to