The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-03
ABDUL HAM|D THE CRAFTY.
PAST GRAND MASTER or THE ART
OF DIPLOMACY.
0trugs1ed for . Quarter Of . Gen.
fury for Hts Position in. Europe
His Policy Of Delay In
the Payment of Turkeys Debts.


indemnity. President Mckinley and Sec
rotary Hay have entered upon a struggle
with the past grand master Of the Fa-
bian school OF diplomacy. Abdul Hamid
IL Is far and away the craftiest and most
daring ruler In the old world. His inesss.
skill, cunning. holiness have been con-
stantly exercised in contests with the
ablest statesmen OF Europe for quar-
ter OF a century, and. while he has not
always come OF victor. he has won more
frequently than he has lost.
Abdul Hamid is Turk and Mussuiman
Of the old school He Is IS years of age.
and the innovations of modern civiliza-
ton have left little impression upon him.
He rules Turkey as his predecessors ruled
II, and has only yielded grudgingiy 10
the progress of the age.
He became the ruler of the Ottoman
empire In August. 1876 at a moment
when the Servian and Bulgarian prov
inees were in the revolt which immedi-
ateiy preceded the Turko- Russian war.
and when the combined powers Of Europe
were exerting their utmost pressure TO
compel Turkey to adopt new policies.
Upon his accession to the throne Abdul
Hamid was confronted by the immediate
danger OF the disintegra,ion OF his en-
pire At that time Turkey In Europe In
cluded servia. Bulgaria. Roumania, Mon
tenegro. Bosnia, Herzegovina and Thes-
sally. These provinces were not only In
q state OF revolt, but Russia and Austria
were known 10 have designs upon terri
tory which would extend their own from
tiers TO the Mediterranean. The dissolu-
ton OF Turkey was freely predicted in
every capital OF Europe, and the strife
between the powers for possession of the
broken parts OF empire. for the spoil OF
Constantinople and the control OF the
Dardanelies promised TO embroil all Eu-
rope In general war.
A1t,f IIuv mt al nd n
Il was too late to save the Balkan prov
inces, but he was quick to recognize In
tho general European situation the OPP
portunity OF saving his throne and his
footing In Europe and OF still maintain
ing Constantinople as the seat Of Moham-
medan power.
For the first time he played his game
on the chess board OF Europe. All the
world knows what followed. The war
with Russia lost Servia and Roumania TO
the sultan. Bosnia and Herzegovina went
90 Austria, but Montenegro was erected
into buffer state that for the time
blocked Franz Josef's pathway to Salon
lea The cxar's victorious armies were at
the gates of Constantinople, and Tur-
keys position In Europe hung only by
thread.
Then Il was that Abdul Hamid taught
Europs its first lesson in Oriental state
craft. BY a secret treaty with Lord Bea-
ain tho island OF Cyprus. In return Lord
Beaconsfeid guaranteed the territorial
integrity OF Asia Minor and sent the Brit
ish feet through the Dardanelles.
Russia was checkmated. The car at
once realized that his troops marching
into Constantlnople would be shelled by
the British fleet. He was reluctantly com
PEELED 10 give up a project long dreamed
of by Russia and 20 submit to the terms
OF the treaty Of Berlin, dictated by
European congress demanded by Lord
Beaconsfeid, who really acted AZ the
agent of the crafty sultan.
In June. 1878. the powers were com
pclled To take steps to secure the en-
forcement of the terms OF the treaty OF
berlin with reference TO the ratification
of the Montenegrtn frontier. In this con-
troversy the sultan lost. He endeavored
90 save himself by changing his ministry,
thus giving Great Britain almost com
plcte a.cendency Mt Constantinople. He
watched the negotiations OF the powers
closely waiting To make the most of any
apparent disagreement. But in the end
he failed. being compelled to ceds pulcig-
no TO Montenegro. but not until after
having received two utimatums backed
NJ by tho allied fleets OF the powers.
sultan Abdul Hands position In Eu-
rope was rapidly becoming preoarious,
Nearly every power had claims upon him.
He owed money to every banker In Eu-
rope. lie could only pay In Territory, as
cash he had none. The territorial de-
mands OF Greece were still unsatisfed
and the Russian war indemnity yet I'M
paid.
So long as the concert of the powers
existed the Ottoman empire was doomed.
This was Abdul Hands situation In
1850 and 1881.
The English and French rivalry for pos
session OF Egypt gave Abdul Hamid the
coveted opportunity for breaking the con.
cert Of the powers. Tho powers had
united in pressing the demand for the
completion OF the Berlin treaty with
rsfer,nre to the territorial claims OF
Greece The Grcctan government was
slamoring for "a settlement and was act
iVeiy preparing for war GiadStone had
succesied naacOnsfeli and was encour-
aging Greece. Austria was suspected Of
dasisus IA salonica bay Gladstone. re
ysr~ing the policy 81 Rcaconsneld. sided
with Russia.
The sultan saw In the situation an op-
portunity 20 divide tho powers, lie ap-
realed 20 France reminding the republic
Of TIA interests IN Tripon and T,Inls. 90
which England was hostile and Germany
ana Austria friendly England and
France were az once emhroiied IN a quar-
rel over Northern Africa. Russia siding
with England
Tho powers were pit,ed against each
other and tho European concert broken.
The sultan fortified tho parannelles call
ed the rcfefs 90 their coloys ard made a
hravs show OF preparing Tor war Ha
tactics partly succeeded FOR. although On
this end he was compelled 90 giNc in 90 tho
demands ~ Greece no only gave a part
Of the territory originally demanded
Ia 'SSs The POWERS again came together
e. consider tho Bulgarian question after
the revelation which nralN ended iu
Prince Alexander rcslsuRtion Russia
aud Austria. working together demanded
the restoration "a Prince Alexander, who
Was entirely under Russian Influence
Germany auS Italy took the same POSI-
ticu The tnlt1n appealed to England. as
ser,iug that Russia WAS intriguing 60 So
cure permanent control 81 bulgaria. from
which 20 menace Turkey with another
advance ga Cousihnttnopie
the sultan arpcst 60 England was net
rliapiarrd frf Gladstone had been sits
crsded by Io!I salisbury. Who regarded
EaeslR as EnElsra's natural foc As a
result England refused 60 recognise she
treaty ot Neriin a. binding The Eupro-
r~sn concert was compelled 70 cansent 90
tNe election 81 Prince Ferdinand as ruler
OF fstttuarta t,r,xtwr~ Was kant