The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-29
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The negotiations for peace proceed slow
~. and II cannot be determined from the
dispatches what Turkeys intentions are.
The only authoritative information to DO
obtained IL that which II onlciafiy pro-
mulgated by ths porte. An We know is
that the porte has replied 70 the note Of
the powers and consents 70 negotiate for
peace. No response to the request OF the
powers could say less The vague reports
from Athens that there are indications cf
. more favorable turn n ~ peaee nego-
tiations do not amount to anything. Each
OF the powers II trimming. and there =
no certainty that Turkey win yieed on
any one of the points. except. perhaps. to
reduce the Indemnity fron G1Anpo.eoe to
Ee.o0oae.
II was reported from Constantinople
that Turkey would not consent to = cessa-
ton OF hostilities except upon condition
CT . large indemnity. the occupation OK
Thessaly and the sboliticn Of the eapitu-
lations. There Il no doubt that N indem-
nifty VIII be conceded by the powers, and
the only question II as to the amount.
The sultan has placed himself In vsry
awkward position by consulting the
Eheslkh. He has declared It to be the with
OF Allah that the Mussulman shall retain
possession Of Thessaly, and II the powers
insist upon withdrawal Of the troops from
that province some way viii have to be
provided to enable the Sheikh to modify
his Interpretation Of the purpose he pro-
fesses to have correctly construed.
The abolition Of the capitulations has
received the least attention. but it IL like
ly to give the greatest trouble. and It Is
the only phase of the question In which
the United States Is interested. It u to
the interest of this country, as well as OF
every other power. that Greece should not
be denied capitulat!cn privileges. since
that would form . precedent for breaking
down similar restrictions In the treaties
with other countries. 1t Is upon this clause
that protection II assured citizens OF the
United States in Turkey. and it 10 upon
the violation OF this covenant that our
government is enabled to demand fndem-
nifty for losses to Americans.
In all Its treaties with other powers
Turkey agrees neither to bring into court
nor even to arrest any foreign subject
without the sanction Of the proper consul.
That provision was Inserted In the treaty
with Great Britain many years ago. and
has always been regarded by the Ottoman
government as q humiliating admission
that the laws of Turkey and the manner
Of their execution were considered made
quate to insure justice to people Of other
nations with which intercourse was de-
sired and sought. 1t would not have been
insisted upon probably by some other ma
tions. but upon the most favored nation"
standard the United States. as wen as
they, has always insisted upon all the
privileges granted to any one Ut the nrst-
class powers.
The stigma implied by this condition has
been resented by the Turks. but It was
impossible to make Great Britain yield.
and no other nation has been willing. az
q matter Of principle. to forego privileges
granted to one. If the line could be broken
by insuring the withdrawal OF that pro-
vision from the Greeks. It would form .
precedent which might be later followed.
and the Turks would probably prefer this
concession to large indemnity or to some
of the other advantages they have
claimed.