New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-09
TURKEY AND THE POWEPS.

The latest Of the varying and contradictory
reports from the East Is that the Sultan has de-
cided 10 reject the proposed terms Of peace with
Greece to defy the will Of the Powers. to renew
The war next week. and to dictate his own terms
of peace nj the AcrOpOlis Of Athens. That Is en-
| tirely credible The conduct OF the Turkish
Government during the armistice. in delaying
peace negotiations and Increasing its forces in
Thessaly and Macedonia. gives color Of truth TO
it. The experience of Turkey with the Powers
during the last few years is surely sufficient TO
encourage the Sultan to assume just such an
attitude For the Powers have been crying
Wolff but no wolf has appeared. They have
been threatening TO cocrce Turkey, but have not
done so in the slightest degree In Armenia. in
Crete and all along the line, Turkey has actively
or passively deficd the concerted Powers. with
entire impunity and with entire success. why
should she not do so again. in the case Of
Greece? There Is no reason why she should NOT
try II, though there may he one why she can
rot achieve success. In the fable. ii will be re-
membered the wolf did come at last.
The secret of the situation is. OF course that
there has been no real concert Of the Powers. eX-
ccpt for inactiOn. They have had no common
aim; for such an aim must be disinterested. and
they. or some of them. have been entirely selfish.
They have not sought the reform Of the Turkish
administration. nor the protection and welfare
Of the Christian peoples under MOslem rule, nor
yet an equitable settlement Of conflicting claims
between Turkey and Greece. They have been
seeking their own selfish advantage Thus they
have Dcen unable to agree upon concerted ac-
ton. for no one has been willing to do anything
that might advance the interests Of the others.
Thus Turkey has been able to play them against
each other. and to enjoy for herself. meanwhile.
the privilege of doing exactly as she pleased.
7 hms the muchvaunted mandate OF Europe has
been fOutcd and dced. and Is. If report be true.
so fouted and deted to-day at this supreme
crisis of the whole raglco-farcical campaign.
Nevertheless tn, defiance Of the Powers by
Turkey will not be wise not even now. when
the Ottoman arms are crowned with easy vie
tory For there is point at which the strong
passion Of greed becomes subordinate TO the
stronger passion Of self-preservaticn: and that
point it may we'll be believed. is now close at
hand The Powers could afford 10 let Turkey go
on in the path Of decadencc and decentralization.
"stewing in her own juice as one bluntly
spoken diplomat declared no matter how grave
we're the injuries thus inflicted upon some or all
of The people Of the Empire because the fur
Their she went, The nearer she approached that
final dissolution in which they will find oppor-
tunty 10 partition her remains among them
selves They cannot afford to let her rehabli-
tate herself and increase her strength and re
sources. because that would at once mperil
their own interests and UNNECESSARILY postpone
the catastrophe for which they are so eagerly
waiting For that reason. If for no better. II is
not to be believed that the Powers will permit
Turkey further to despoil Greece. 1t is rather
to he believed that they will at last find way
70 act together. as well as to be idle together.
and will enforce their authority upon the Gov
eminent that has for the last half-century ex-
listed only on their sufferancc