The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-05-20
TURKEYS DEMANDS.
Reply to the Request Of the Pow
ers for an Armistice.
Porte Demands Annexation OF These
sally and Payment of q Heavy War
Indemnity-Powers Not Like
~ to Consent. ~.

Z
has replied officially to the note of the
powers and declines to agree to an
armistice until the following conditions
are accepted: The annexation of Thes,
sally, an indemnity of 6 10, 200, 600 Turk
ish and the abolition of the capitula-
tons. The porte proposes that pleni-
potentiaries of the powers should meet
at Pharsalos to discuss the terms Of
peace, and declares that if these condi-z
tons are declined the Turkish army
will continue to advance. The demand
for the annexation of Thessaly is based
upon the fact that the province was
originally coded to Greece on the advice
of the powers with the object of ending
brigandagc and Greek incursions into
Ottoman territory, the porte believing
at the time that the cession would at
tain these objects, but the recent in
cursions of Greek bands and the events
Immediately preceding the war have
proved to the contrary. This is the SUBJ
stance of the =eply.
Raises a Grave Issue.
The ambassadors met to consider the
portc's answer, which is regarded as
raising an extremely grave issue. It is
believed that representations will be
made to the sultan personally to induce
a modification of these terms, but it is
foreseen that this will be very difficult,
owing to the attitude of the powerful
old Turk war party. If the porte should
prove obdurate European conference
is not improbable, although at present
Russia is opposed to this.
Powers VIII Not Consent
tits regarded as quite certain that the
powers will not consent to retroces-
sion of Thessaly. Even Germany is be-
lieved to be resolute on this point, be-
cause it would involve violation of the
Berlin treaty and imperil the peace of
the Balkans. Altogether the reply of
the porte has caused the greatest sur
prise. 1t appears that during the dis
cussion of the note from the powers by
the council of the sultan's minister's;
news reached the council that 5000
Greeks had landed at Palona and were
marching to Janina with the intention
of cooperating with other forces from
Arta. This created a bad impression
among the MINISTER'S. !,
Another Demand.
London, May ia dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Constantinople says the
porte's reply demands in it's conclud-
ing paragraph an eStradition treaty.
with Greece, and that the ports of Volo
and Prevesa be kept open for vessels
carrying food supplies to the Turkish
troops. =.
Turks Give Up Prevesa.
Athens, May ia private dispat ch
from Arta, just received here, says that
the Turkish garrison at Prevesa, at the
northern entrance Of the gulf of Aria,
which has been besieged by the Greek
land and sea forces almost from the
outbreak of the war has sent the Greek
archbishop and five notabilities of Pre-.
vesa to the commander of the besieging
Greek army with a message saying
that the Turkish force is ready to ca
pitulate to the regular forces of Greece.
Will Maintain the Defensive.
Athens, May 17.-Sunday NJ. Ralli, the
premier, visited the various legations
and obtained assurances that the pow
ers would undertake to prevent any Of
fensive action on the part of the Turks.
providing the Greek forces maintained
strictly defensive attitude. On this
understanding he Immediately wired
to the commanders of the three Greek
divisions at Domokos, Sourpi and Aria,
instructing them to abstain from all
hostile action unless attacked by the
enemy.