The herald., 1897-05-28
PORTE TO NEGOTIATE
IF GREECE WILL SIGN AN
ARMISTICE
The Whole Mohammedan Religious
World Denounces the Restora-
tion Of Thessaly

LONDON, May H.-The Daily Mails
correspondent at Constantinople says:
The porte has replied to the note OF
for peace, provided the Greek COM
manders first sign an armistice.
The correspondent of the Standard at
Constantinople says: The immediate
encourage of the sultan favors restor-
ing Thessaly to Greece. The Turkish
foreign minister has spoken on the sub
ject in conciliatory tone to the Baron
Ill Calice, the Austro-Hungarian am
bassador. asking only little delay, in
order that public excitement may sub
side.
On the other hand the whole official
and religious world, including the Sheik-
ul- Islam, denounces the idea of restora-
tion, while every military measure
points to retention. Even those who had
supposed that the sultan was manufac-
turing the excitement in order to exact
better terms from the powers, are be-
ginning to think he has gone too far
and lost control of the situation.
Russia does not conceal her extreme
Irritation at the German policy, which
is so openly and persistently directed
against Russia that many Turks accuse
Germany Of deliberately plotting to pro-
duce a rupture between the two coun-
tries.
A dispatch to the Post from Constan-
tinople says the Turkish government
has given orders for the forwarding of
thirty battalions from Syria for service
on the Servian and Bulgarian frontier,
and that six transports sailed yesterday
Thursday under sealed orders.
The correspondent of the Times a.
Athens says: The dispatch which the
government has received from repre-
sentatives of Greece abroad all indi-
cate that the peace negotiations have
taken a turn more favorable to Greece.
Turkeys proposal to occupy Thessaly
no longer receives consideration. owing
to England's attitude, while the pro-
posal to abolish the capitulations in the
case Of Greek citizens in Turkey Is re-
jected and the suggested extradition
treaty is apparently set aside.
The powers have fixed six million
pounds as the highest limit of indemnity
and will allow only such q strategic al
teration of the frontier as will not in
volve the subjects of any inhabited dis.
tricts to Turkish rule.
The correspondent of the Times at
Salonica, telegraphing Wednesday,
says: have just arrived here, after
passing through Larissa, Elassona and
Sorovitch. En- route there is steady
forward march of reinforcements along
all the roads. The force under Edhem
Pasha's command must now be close
on 900 men.
A dispatch to the Times from Con
stantinople says: The attitude of the
grand vizier is the subject Of much
comment He was regarded as merely
the instrument of the sultan, but now
he shows unexpected vigor as an ,ad-
vocate of an exacting policy toward
Greece. The reply of the porte delivered
this evening (Thursday), confirms the
report that 1t would not discuss the con-
ditions of peace.
A GREEK PROTEST
ATHENS, May 27.--The Greek Gov
ernment has sent memorandum to the
Powers protesting against the indem-
nifty demanded by Turkey, also against
the proposal of the rectification of the
Greek frontier.
1t is reported that the Turks have
confiscated 1880 bushels OF wheat at
Volo and that the Turkish commander
has issued proclamation calling upon
the peasants to return and gather the
harvest or their crops will be confis-
Gated.
Advices from Lamia today say fresh
panics prevailed there. The people are
neeing from the city and deserting their
children.