The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-17
PORTE DEFIES THE POWERS.
WON'T STOP THE WAR UNTIL ITS
TERMS ARE COMPLIED WITH.

Annexation Of ThessaIy, an Indem-
nifty of f1O,OOO, 900 and Abolition of
,be combinations Demanded by the
Ottoman GOvernment-The Powers
Sure to Refuse to Agree to the
CeSsiOn of ThessaIy and a Euro
moan Conference Probable If the
SuItan Proves StubbOrn-The De-
oaDds Come as a Startling Sur
prise.
Constantinople, May 16-The porte has
renlied officially to the note of the powers
and declines to agree to an armistice un-
I'll the following conditions are accepted:
The annexation of Thessaly, an indem-
Ditv of f1O,OOO, 900 Crurkish), and the aboli-
tion of the capitulations
The porte proposes that the plenipoten-
tiaries of the powers meet at Pharsala
/ N discuss the terms of peace, and declares
tf these conditions are declined, the Turk
isb army will continue to advance.
The demand for the annexation of Thes-
4 saly is based upon the fact that the pro-
vince was originally ceded to Greece on the
advice of the powers with the object of
ending brigandage and Greek incursions
into ottoman territory, the porte believ-
4 ing at the time that the cession would OBJ
81 tain these objects, but the recent incur
sons of Greek bands, and the events inn
nediately preceding the war have prov
cd IN the contrary. This is the substance
of the reply.
The ambassadors met to-day to consider
The ports answer, which is regarded as
raising an extremely grave issue. 1t is
believed that representations will be made
TO the sultan personally to induce a mod
ifcation of these terms, but it is foreseen
that this will be very difficult, owing to
the attitude of the old Turkish war party.
If the porte proves obdurate European
conference is not improbable, although at
present Russia is opposed to this.
1t is regarded as quite certain that the
powers will not consent to retrocession
Of Thessaly. Even Germany is believed
10 be resolute on this point, because it
would involve a violation of the Berlin
treaty and imperil the peace of the Bal
kans.
Altogether the reply of the porte has
caused the greatest surprise. 1t appears
that during the discussion of the note
from the powers by the council of the sui
tans ministers. news reached the coun-
ell that 5000 Greeks had landed at Palona,
and would march into Janina with the
n intention of cooperating with other
forces from Arta. This created a bad
impression among the ministers.
London, May IA dispatch to the
~. he
porte's reply demands in it's concluding
paragraph an extradition treaty with
. Greece, and that the ports of Volo and
"A Prevesa be kept open for vessels carrying
food supplies to the Turkish troops.
A dispatch to the Standard from Con-
etantinople says: THE porte's reply to the
powers is based upon mazbata presented
# by the ministers to the sultan represent
ing that Greece was responsible for COM
peiling Turkey to declare war; for the last
fifteen years Greece had ignored her en-
gagements under the Berlin treaty by
emitting to pay indemnity, by seizing and
confscating Vakoups. or religious do
Mains and finally by invading Turkish
soil; and that therefore. the council were
Of the opinion that Greece had no just
claim upon him for lenency"
This followed proposals upon which the
council would base a peace. The grand
szier In submitting the mazbata, assur-
ed the sultan that the nation was prepar-
ed to shed its last drop of blood in support
u such conditions of settlement
The war party threatens TO dethrone
the sultan if he shows any weakness, but
shrewd observers say this is only a farce
10 enable him TO pose before Europe as
the unwilling victim of his fanatieal sub
jects.
I'm spite of the great successes of Ed
hem Pasha, the palace spies have ex-
pressed their doubts as to his fidelity, and
the sultan has sent a special aide-de-camp
TO watch him.
According to reports from the army,
the large bore Mauser rifles. after a few
discharges, become overheated, gets out
. of order and Is practically useless"