The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-01
Solution of the Turkish Problem.

Solution of the Turkish Problem.
"An Academic study of the Partition
of the Turkish Empire in the Interest
of the Peace of Europe and the Benefit
of the Oppressed Turkish Subjects" is
the title of little pamphlet which will
probably be read with interest at this
time by those who have been watching
the movements on the eastern checker
board. II is signsd by AN Anglo-In-
dian with long experience In the ad-
ministratiOn of oriental provinces"
The little booklet was published in Lon
don January ! last, for free distribu-
tion. 1t was evidently inspired by the
agitation of Europe over the Armenian
situation, which had greatly simmered
down by the beginning of the year. but
1t receives new value now by the
present disturbances i'm Crete and the
renewed talk Of u general European
war over the effects of the Sick Man.
Without knowing who this "Anglo-ln
dian with long experience IN the ad
mnistratiOn of oriental provinces"
may be, it is entertaining to note his
remedy for the iutulerable situation in
Europe growing out of the indisposition
of the powers effectively to regulate
the Turk and his domains. This REM
edy, of course. is partition, dismember-
ment of the sultan's entire holding. The
wscst statesmen of Europe have tried
many times to plan such a distribution
,,ct 4 ,yi, ,,ic 1 ha
least friction possible and ailot to each
power the exact slice that Is most earn
estly desired but without success. Each
nation wants the wishbone and a drum
stick and there being but one Of the
former and two of the latter the effort
at harmonious distribution has failed.
The "AnglO-Indian" proposes the fol-
lowing scheme: Give Crete and the
European islands of the archipelago
to Greece Italy should have Tripod
itana; Great Britain should receive n
clear title to Egypt and Cyprus; to
France should be allotted Syria and
Mesopotamia; Germany should receive
the Turkish provinces in Arabia; Aus
tri should obtain the whole of the So
called Turkey in Europe with the eX-
ception of Albania, which it might be
convenient to cede to Greece, and the
provinces which are now only slightly
| dependent upon the sultan, such as
| Bulgaria and Western Roumelia, which
should be declared Independent; Russia
should be given the whole of Asia Minor
|
er with all the Asiatic islands of the
archipelago. This plan would put Con-
stantinOple in the hands of Austria,
| and would consequently wipe out the
| present imperial court. The author
proposes that all Turks not natives of
Europe and all Armenians should be
compelled within certain time to mi
CRATE to Asia. ST. Sophia should be
restored to the Greek church, while
| all the mosques built by mohametans
| should he preserved and protected, as
| in British India. The dgnitaries of
the Moslem church should be permitted
to remain if they agreed to refrain
| from any participation in political af-
! fairs, Otherwise they should De
| bundled into Asia. The SueZ canal and
the straits of the Dardanelles should
| be declared neutral, under the joint
| protection of the powers, open to al
vessels, whether of peace or war. The
| fortresses Of the Dardanelles should be
destroyed and the Black sea made free
to all. The author acknowledges thai
perhaps some of the powers would moi
be wholly content with their helpings
as he thus arranges them. He points
out the dangers to England arisins
from prolonged occupation of Egyp
and the probability that France woult
find her share burden rather than {
benefit But he regards the whole plar
as the only feasible proposition il
sight. The scheme is important at thi!
juncture only as showing the vast pos
sibilities for trouble in the situation.