New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-21
RUSSIA AND TURKEY.
A THEORY OF A SECRET ALLIANCE Be
TWEEN THE TWO.

TWEEN THE TWO.
Constantinoplc correspondence of The London
News.
Is there treaty or ssSret understandings between
being seriously asked in Constantnople. and 10
which many persons whose opinions are worthy of
There some. indeed, who go further and de-
clare, that they know that an understanding re-
duced to writing exists TO which upward OF year
ago the Car affixed his signature. The belief Of
those who profess TO know Is that the under sand,
made between Russia and Turkey in 1888. BY that
To- give eaf d sgan any and as
in of internal disturbances. In form II was a
made Turkey a vassai State OF Russia. TO use The
modern phrase. the Sultan voluntarily? pla ed 1ui-
turn for guarantee of the integrity of the Otto
man Empire, The Sultan undertook Whenever
to the ships of war of all nations The present
alege advancement is supposed to guaraA:ee re
that Russia snail come to the ala , of The Sultan Sui an
The arguments in favor Of The existenSe of such
spread prevalence of a belief among most OF the
members of the governns. class in Tu;key that
agains, any other Power. but agains, any move
ment OF the Young Turkey or other party wis hins
has incurred during the last nine months In havns
a fleet of warsnips ana OF transports constantly
ready in the Black Sea ports to make descent
at few hours notice upon the Turkish coast OF
Russia. as the only Power Which could do 50
enectualy. to occupy the Armenian provinces
her objection TO allow Italy to join with her and
England and France in the negotiations when
in regard to the massatres down TO March. 1888
the undogbted fact Of her on TO- rd the
nciles opposition which was carried to such an
hf in baef WAS ss o ImE who
was successful few months ago in obtaining The
of the United states, of Holland and of Greece.
RUssIAs CONDUCT ABOUT CRETE.
can be advanced in favor of the, existence of the
supposed j. TO be derived lsem
the rst among p1Wers TO nsI5e
Teegs maj of the w ottoman EMPIRE Il may be
doubted whether with me exception OF the short
the phrase THE integrity of the ottoman En-
at the time Of the Crmean war and represents
the policy of the wrong horse upon which Con
their money. It may be conjectured that she only
employs It now because her policy Is to take oyer
the Empire bodily within the sphere OF her infiu-
consldering what are the family reatSnships be;
family of Greece that nothing has been said said to
troubles they were not of most cordial and
even affectonate character some exceptional mo; mo;
She of all Powers should have proclaimed that the
Mas to- he ntesy Of Empire
Remembering
of Russia. for which she has spent millions. and
sacrificed thousands of lives has been that she. and
nf c5urcS wSo are under the turkish Yoke
that her newspapers at least justified her non-in-
reference to save the lives of the Armenilns on
the ground that they were not orthodox, it Is
Crctans being annexed 10 Greece, or be ready 10
coerce and cripple Greece. because she is ready TO
o war Enro S apOE war; SUCH suggestion be
good enough for Lord Salisbury or NJ. Hanotaux,
because il that If they supported Greece Rus
sia and possibly Germany. in hel desire to detach
Russia from her French alliance. would oppose
the Western Powers by force. But If Russia had
declared her unwingaess to coerce Greece there
could have been question of n general war and
no danger European peace. The fear OF troubles In
Macedonia and the Balkan Peninsula generally? No
one knowing the present condition OF the Peninsula
would deny that TIE situation which has been ere
ated by the hasty dispatch Of badly clothed, ifed
GUS to the peace OF the Peninsula than if these
troops had not been sent. they would not have
been II Russia had not adhered ia her new policy
of the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. because
then the Powers would have adopted other meas
ures In regard 10 Crete and Greece. The fear OF
supply a motive for Russias action.
THE BEST EXPLANATION
If. however. plausible motive must be sought
n explain Russa's conduct in champoning the
principle Of the integrity of the Ottoman Empire,
the existence Of an understanding with Turkey by
which Russia consents TO guarantee integrity and
in return for Turkey becoming a vassal State
supplies the hypothesis when gives the best expa-
nation. OF course. If a treaty or understanding
were known for a certainty TO exist, the western
world might be more sccptical than at present as
TO Russia's sincerity in endeavorne to introduce re-
forms; because. after all II Russias policy be 10
allow Turkey 10 go from bad TO In order
that tho Sick Mans Inheritance may the sooner
come to hand any reforms which tend to proong
his life against her interest.