The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-29

taught Europe IT'S first lesson in orien-
tai statecraft. BY a secret treaty with
Lord Beaconsnel6 the sultan ceded
to Great Britain the island OF Cypress.
In return Lord Beaconsfeld Euaran-
teeu the territorial Integrity OF Asia
Minor and sent the British fleet
through the Dardaneles.
Russia was checkmated. The car
at once realized that his troops march
ing into Constantinople would be
shelled by the British fleet. He was
reluctantly compelled to give up a pro-
ject long dreamed of by Russia and
to submit to the terms OF the treaty
OF Berlin, dictated by an European
congress demanded by Lord Beacons-
field, who really acted as the agent
| OF the crafty sultan.
In June, 1878, the powers were COM
PEELED to take steps to secure the en-
forcement Of the terms OF the Atreaty
| OF Berlin with reference to the ratif-
| cation OF the Montenegrin frontier. In
this controversy the sultan lost. He
endeavored to save himself by chang
ing his ministry, thus giving Great
Britain almost complete ascendency
at Constsntinople. He watched the
| negotiations OF the powers closely,
waiting to make the most Of any ap-
| parent disagreement. But in the end
| he failed, being compelled to cede Dull
cigno to Montenegro, but not until al
ter having received two ultimatums
backed UP by the allied fleets of the
powerA
HEAVILY IN DEBT.
Sultan Abdul Hamid's position in
Europe was rapidly becoming precar-
ious. He owed money TO every banker
in Europe He could only pay In ter
ritory, as cash he had none. The ter
ritorial demands OF Greece were still
unsatisfied and the Russian war in
| demnity yet unpaid.
| SO long as the concert OF the powers
existed the Ottoman empire was DOOM
ed. This was Abdul Hamid's situation
in 1880 and 1881.
The English and French rivalry for
possession in Egypt gave Abdul Hamid
| the coveted opportunity for breaking
the concert OF the powers. The pow
ers had united in pressing the demand
for the completion OF the Berlin treaty
with reference to the territorial claims
OF Greece. The Grecian government
was clamoring for a settlement and
was actively preparing for war. Glad
stone had succeeded Beaconsfleld and
was encouraging Greece. Austria was
suspected OF designs in Salonica bay.
Gladstone, reversing the policy OF
Rcaconsheld, sided with Russia,
The sultan saw in the situation an
opportunity TO divide the powers. He
appealed to France. reminding the re-
public OF Its interests in Tripoli ana
Tunis to which England was hostile
and Germany and Austria friendly,
England and France were at once en-
bruiled in n quarrel over northern Az
rica, Russia siding with England.
Ths powers were pltted against each
other and the European concert
broken. The sultan fortified the Dard-
anelles, called the redefs TO their coll
ors, and made q brave SHOW of pre-
pairing for war His tactics partly sue
ceeded, for, although in the end he
was compelled to give In 10 the de-
mands OF Greece, he only gave a part
OF the territory originally demanded.
GLADSTONE A MARK.
In 1856 the powers again came to-
gether to consider the Bulgarian ques,
tion after the revolution which finally
ended in Prince Alexanders reslgna
tion. Russia and AUSTRIA working to
gether, demanded the restoration o.
Prince Alexander. who was entirely un