The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-05

WIN ~ DC CuSS
Correspondence from Athens states that,
although hostilitiesh had been arrested and
negotiations for peace entered upon, the
Greek Government continues the purchase
Of large quantities Of arms and ammunition
and wal supplies Of all kinds. At the
Greek capital this Is regarded as a proof
that the Government do not consider
the conclusion Of peace as certain,
and that 1t Is necessary for Greece to be
prepared for further fighting. The opinion
is also prevalent hat Greece Is being
backed by one or two powers in order to
complicate the situation for Interior pur-
poses, which are suspected at CONSTANT
nople and causing a good deal of appre-
hcnsion. The new levies arriving from
Asia are being disposed in such a man.
ner as to show that danger Is imagined
both on the side of Bulgaria and even at
~Constantinople itself. The German officers
at the Turkish capital who, until a short
time ago, were devoting all their attention
to the campaign in Thessaly, are now stated
to be actively studying the problems of a
campaign in quite another direction. The
orders for war material for the Turkish
army are for the earliest possible de-
livery, exhibiting an absence of con.
fdence in the conclusion OF n dura-
able peace. The efforts of the war
party to create u belligerent feeling among
the population in the Asiatic provinces
arc said not to be meeting with the success
wished for. The complete disturbance of
affairs throughout Anatolia and Armenia
is making itself sensibly felt among all
classes of the people, and numbers of Mus.
sulmans are realizing the consequences
that a headstrong policy at Constantine.
pie may invoke. The embassies of the
powers are closely and fully informed of
the state of feeling prevailing throughout
Asia Minor, where the Sultan's chief reli.
ance is placed. and know that further out
RACES on the Christian populations are un-
likely unless prompted from Constan-
tinople. For this reason it is said to be
almost certain that any recurrence of mas
sacres in Asia will be visited not only on
the actual perpetrators, but on the instiga-
tors, some of whom are actually under the
observation OF agents of the embassies.
The Sultan is said to be realizing his true
position in Il greater degree than ever be-
fore, and is resorting to every art and sub
terfuge known to Oriental diplomacy to
prolong negotiations and delay the con-
clusion of any definite settlement, trusting,
with the usual fatalism. to the chapter of
accidents to provide a loophole through
which he can escape from the pres
ent situation. The danger to which
he Is subject is the possibility OF
u%nanimity among the powers, and his
great hope, based upon past expert
ence, is that his friend, the German
Emperor, may prevent such a calamity.
Nothing would be so profitable for the Sui
tan as n continental conflict in which he
would be in demand as an ally by some
power, in which case he could make his owr
terms, and reforms and guarantees for the
Christian populations would be thrown tt
the winds. But it is very unlikely that any
of the European Governments would dare tc
plunge the whole of the continent into war Il
prop up such a system as is reducing one o
the most fertile areas of the world to a con
dition of savage barbarism. If any fight
ing does take place in Europe now, out o.
this Eastern imbroglio, it will be agains'
the Turk and over the partition of hi
territory, and not to maintain hin
In possession of a trust he onl,
holds to misuse. Tho so-called rehabil
itation of the Turk in consequence,
of his successes in the field against the i'll
prepared and badly led Greeks is an illu
sion that deceives no one who understand
the condition of Turkey, it's bankrupt re
sources and social disorganization. Evel
If the powers decide that some kind O
a peace must be patched up now. tn
Turk can gain no permanent advantage
They will SO decide for their own purposes
but another step will have been made in tn
bringing Of the Turk under foreign control
He will be required for economic reasons
and because of the loss of revenue througI
the disturbances in Asia Minor, to disban,
the larger part of his army. A refusal t
comply would be followed by a withdrawa
of all financial support, and the authority G
the Sultan would disappear in the ruin an,
disorder of his empire. The near futur
cannot fail to bring surprising de
velopments in the East, for the fact tina
no records are kept OF the consulta
tions that arc now being held at Constant
nople, and that the representatives Of tn
three powers, Russia, France, and England
that jointly assumed the guardianship {
Greece at its birth, have charge OF the nj
gotiations, indicate that they are actin
for the moment as the joint representation
of collective Europe, and are conductin
the discussion informally, referring ever.
thing to their respective Governments.