The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-25
CONCERT A MYTH
England, France and Italy Are
Believed
To Be Already Outside Of the
Combination.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
Will Not Permit Them to SuS-
tain Turkey
While the Massacre of Armen-
ians Continues.

COnSIanllnOple, Marcn Z0.-1ne steps
taken by the sultan to punish the Turk
ish officials who are held responsible
for the massacre of 100 Armenians at
Tokat, in the Sivas district of Asia
Minor, and the pillaging of the Armen-
ian quarter of Tokat for eight hours,
are not satisfactory to the ambassa-
doris of the powers, and unless there is
a change in the situation very soon it
is believed that some of the powers will
be compelled by public opinion to make
a radical change of the policy towards
Creto and Greece.
The remonstrance of Sir Philip Cur
RE, British ambassador, was one of the
strongest ever delivered by an ambas-
Sador concerning the massacres in Ar
menia, and was intended for a stern
notification to the porte that further
outbreaks in Armenia would not pass
without vigorous action upon the part
of the powers. The Immediate result
of the protest, the mere dismissal of
the two Turkish officials, is not con-
Sidered sufficient to demonstrate the
diSpleasure of the sultan at the wantOn
killing of hundred Armenians, and is
further looked upon as being likely to
encourage additional outbreaks of the
same nature. Consequently Sir Philip
Currie has made fresh representations
to the porte, setting forth that serious
consequences will follow the failure of
the sultan to really punish those who
are responsible for the Tokat outrage.
The ambassadors met at the residence
of the British ambassador last evening
and thoroughly discussed the matter,
after which dispatches were sent by
those present to the capitals of the
powers they represent.
Although the result of this meeting
of the ambassadors was not allowed to
become generally known in depart
mental circles here. the opinion pre-
walls that unless the ambassadors put
forth definite threats of coercion IN the
event of the failure of the sultan TO
adopt prompt and efficacious measures
to prevent further massacreS in Ar
menia, there is absolutely no hope of
improving the situation, as it has been
so frequently 'intimated' to the Sui
tan that he must reform that he now
pays little or no attention to such com
municationS.
In we'll informed political circles it is
generally believed that, if fresh out
breaks occur, public opinion in Great
Britain, France and Italy Will compel
the governments to change entirely
their attitude on the Cretan question,
not only towards Crete, but in regard
to Greece, which might mean the lit
ing of the blockade, SO far as these
powers are concerned, and their posi-
tive refusal to take part in the proposed
blockade of the principal ports and
coasts of Greece. Indeed, it is directly
intimated that this proposition has al
ready been practically abandoned by
because such a step is likely to force
Greece into open hostllities against
Turkey but because the sultan, with
true eastern cunning, has taken ad-
vantage of the blockade of Crete by the
fleets of the powers and the lombard
ment of the insurgents by foreign war
ships and the assistance given to the
Turks by the foreign marines, TO place
himself and his government in a new
light before the populace here and else
where in the Ottoman empire
An official communique was address,
I'd by the Turkish government to the
Turkish newspapers and provincial Off
Gals yesterday, representing that the
course adopted by the powers IN the
Cretan affair was an example OF the
success of the sultan in that dlreclOn
and intimating that he has the full
support of the powers, with their neelS
and armies, in the repressiYe measures
which he may choose to adopt against
Christians in his dOmln1onS. 1nlS
amounts practically, to informing the
Mussulrnans that they have nothing to
fear from the powers II they massacre
Christians, as the Christian powers are
supporting the sultan against MS So
called rebellious subjects.
This has caused a decidedly bad i'm
nreSSion in diplomatic circles in Con-
stantinople and gives addltlonal ex-
PLANTATION of the determined stand Whlch
the British ambassador has undoubt-
edly assumed, as well as showing clear
Iy how the sultan and his advisers re-
gard the SO-CalleQ COHCSAl VI @AAO
powers They know it does not exist
except as a hackneyed term, and they
feel it can never exist so long as the
man of Europe is not radically changed
In the meanwhile preparations Tor war
on a large scale are being rapidly
pushed forward and the report of
possibIe agreement between Greece and
Turkey. on the basis of the appoint
ment of Prince George of Greece as
high commissioner of Crete, was for
warded by the issuing of an trade call
ing out for active service A battal1onS
of reserves of the second army corps
and also summoning to the colors the
whole contingent of 1897.
The Turks believe war with Greece
will break out sooner or later, and they
are nursing themselves with the belief
that if they follow out the recommend
atoms of the powers friendly to Turkey,
the armies of the Sultan will be permit
ted to cross the Greek frontiers or
Macedonia and Epirus when the right
moment arrives and push on to Athens.
thus wiping the poor little Kingdom OF
Greece off the face of the globe. Thls
explains the restraints put upon the
Turkish commanders on the Greek
frontier
They have been instructed not to
cross the Greek frontier at present un-
der any circumstances, not even II at
tackled.
The whole blame for an outbreak OF
hostilities must be thrown upon Greece
that is their programme-and then
who can forbid the Turks from chastis-
Ii