Evening journal., 1897-05-17
PORTE'S CONDITIONS.
The Demands Are Objected to by
the ambassadors.
THEY RAISE A VERY CRAVE ISSUE
A European Conference Is Not Improba-
BILE If the Terms Are Not Modl-
fed, Which Is Considered
Extremely Doubtful.

Constantinople, May 1.-THE porte
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 G100OO,O0O and
the abolition of the capitulations. The
porte proposes that plenipotentiaries of
the powers should meet at Pharsala to
discuss the terms of peace and declares
that If these conditions 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 ceded to
Greece on the advice of the powers,
with the object of ending brigandage
and Greek incursions into Ottoman ter
ritory the porte believing at the time
that the cession would attain these OBJ
jects; but the recent incursions of
Greek bands and the events immediate
ly preceding the war have proved to the
contrary. This is the substance of the
reply.
The ambassadors met to consider the
porte's answer. which is regarded as
raising an extremely grave issue. 1t is
believed that representations will be
made to the sultan personally to induce
foreseen that this will be very diff
cult owing to the attitude of the pow
erful old Turk war party.
II the porte should prove obdurate. a
European conference is not improbable
although at present Russia is opposed
to such a step.
1t is regarded as quite certain that
the powers will not consent to a retro
oession of Thessaly. Even Germany is
believed to be resolute on this point be-
cause it would involve a violation of
the Berlin treaty and imperil the peace
of the Balkans.
Altogether the reply of the porte has
caused the greatest surprise. 1t ap-
pears that during the discussion of the
note from the powers by the council Of
the sultan's ministers 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
bad impression among the ministers.
The council of ministers met again,
and the sultan has ordered a distribu-
tion Of troops at various points along
the Salonika railway.
Official dispatches have been received
from the commandant at Janina, who
says that division of the Greek forces
approaching the town by a narrow
gorge from the direction of Gremenitza
charged the heights of Griboro and Ko-
koarin but suffered heavily, losing 20C
killed, while on tSs other side the
Greeks were driven Back upon Basken.
pru (ParaskevD.
The commandant states also thai
fighting has occurred at Kumuzades
No further details are given, excep
that all these battles lasted until even
ing and that the imperial troops re-
tained their positions, with the proba
bility that the Greeks will be re-en-
forced and the fighting renewed. NJ
statement Is made as to the Turkish
losses.
The Turkish commander at Luros tel
egraphs under date of the 18th as fol
lows:
"The outcome of a desperate battl,
lasting two days against a force Of 10,
900 Greeks is that the latter have aban
doned the positions on the heights the!
had previously captured and have with
drawn to the olive groves Of Gremen
itza.