The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-03
At Constantinople.

The news coming from Constantinople in
rather a piecemeal fashion is beginning to
have an ugly look. The story that the Or
Ing of the salute in honor OF the jubilee OF
Queen VIcToRIA brought hundreds OF
Turks, armed with bludgeons, into the
streets, eagerly inquiring Of tho police
whether It was the Greeks or Armenians
that were to be attacked this time, gives
some idea Of what the Mussulman mob Is
waiting for. This inadvertent disclosure
Of feeling, though 1t cannot have been
very satisfactory to the Sultan, Is a timely
warning to the Ambassadors who are sup
posed to be treating for peace between Tur-
key and Greece. 1t also happens that the
authorities in the provinces have been
ordered to pick out and send to the capital
the strongest men they can find, and several
thousands are reported to have arrived
there already. Putting these things together.
and looking at what the Turks are said
to be doing in Thessaly and preparing to do
II they are forced to evacuate that province,
IL would appear that the Sultan is holding
the menace of a general massacre of Chris
tians up before the powers to deter them
from pushing things to extremities.
When 1t is considered that fully six mil
lions of Christians are in different parts Of
the empire on whom Mussulman fanaticism
may be let loose at any moment. the gravity
of the case Is seen to be very great. The
Christian populations in Europe and along
the coasts are the least in danger, as relief
is less far off, but the plight of those in
the interior of the Asiatic provinces is criti-
cal beyond measure. In the event of I'M
Anr1ar1 o,c,n.roncoa hopnanipp nnpnC the
Christian populations of Turkey the respon-
sibility of the power or powers that have
been encouraging the Sultan will be, there
fore, very great.
The general tenor of the news from the
East goes to show that the Sultan has reso-
lutcly made up his mind to resist any fur
Their interference by European powers with
the affairs of the empire, and that he is
firmly and actively supported by Germany.
The way in which the affairs of Crete are
allowed to drift, and the dragging out Of
the peace negotiations, are eloquent of dis
agreement If not actual discord among the
powers. The reported offer of the Cover
norship of Crete to Mr.. DRoz, the ex-Presi-
dent of the Swiss republic, and his condi-
tional acceptance, has a peculiar signif-
canoe, and, If seriously meant. would not be
the worst thing that could happen to Crete,
though for the moment it would put an end
to all hope of it's annexation to Greece.
As regards Greece, the s.,wness with
which the peace negotiations are proceed
ing are telling heavily on the resources
of the country, which are strained to the ut
most by the necessity of maintaining the
enormous crowds of refugees who dare not
return to their homes during the Turkish
occupation. The harvest that ought now
to be garnered is being wasted by
and the period for the autumn seed.
ing is coming on apace. Everything
Is lost to the unfortunate inhabitants
for this year, and next years harvest is
being impcrilled. To add to the difficulty
of the situation for the Greeks, the Turks
are advancing their troops quite regardless
of the armistice, with the object, appar.
emily, of provoking the Greeks into some
actthat would give the Turkish commander
the pretext for resuming hostilities without
further parlcy. On the whole, it cannot be
said that there is any improvement in the
general outlook in southeastern Europe, fol
the Sultan continues to defy the powers
and the powers themselves, with all theil
display of might, are impotent to agree and
impose their will. While this is the cast
the negotiations may be dragged on in
definitely until n crisis Is produced II
Greece that may give an entirely new turf
to affairs.