The Washington times., 1901-11-04
Circulation Statement.
The Franco-Turkish DimcuIty.

The Franco-TurlSish Difficulty.
The despatch of a division Of the
French Mediterranean fleet to Turkish
waters has had the usual effect of
bringing the Sultan TO terms, and our
dispatches yesterday announced that
the claims of French citizens against
the Porte, which are at the bottom of
the trouble. had been fully conceded by
the Constantinople Government. No
doubt Abdul Hamid expected that TO
settle the matter, but it appears that
it will not
The amour propre of La Belle France
has been touched in tender place. We
are assured that the conduct of Turkey
during the past three months has been
insulting TO the Republic, and calcu-
lated to injuriousiy affect its prestige
in the Levant and other regions asso-
ciated with the near Eastern question.
So Turkey must do something more
than pay up, though that win be hard
enough by itself NM. Loubet and Del
casse are quite ready to believe that
the Sultan is sincere in his desire to
avoid war with their country. even at
the price of a solemn promise to pay
money to prevent it. But they are not
without experience with his Ottoman
Majesty. and they consider it safer to
keep Admiral Caillard's squadron at
Smyrna or some other point handy to
Syria until a cash settlement has been
effected, and Abdul Hamid has done the
other things which. will be required of
him. 1t is also said that when NJ. Con-
stans, French Minister to Turkey, re-
turns to his post. he will do SO on a
French war vessel, which would re-
quire the opening of the DardaneIIes for
that occasion.
1t is extremely interesting to note
that France has developed remarkably
paternal feelings toward the French
Catholics in Asia Minor. This is in
marked contrast to the policy lately
adopted by the French Coz ernment in
regard to the Catholic Church at home
At any rate it is announced that, before
the Turkish Government can hope to
escape from the Gallic cavity it is in
at present, it must promptly consent TO
a Encouragement of the French right
of protection to Catholics of that ma
tion in the Ottoman dominions
II this means anything, it probably
means that the French President and
his Foreign Minister have secured per
mission from Russia to develop French
influence in Syria, and that the pres
ent movement more than squints at a
practicaT prUtecJorate over that region. /
This view of the after will not ap- I
peal agreeably TO England. since moth |
ing could be much more uncomfortable !
to the people in Downing Street than I
the prospect of having France for a /
next door neighbor TO Egypt and the /
Suez Canal. Yet that eventuality seems /
likely TO be realized unless it should be
found practicable to organize an Anglo ,
German coalition To prevent it. Prob /
ably we have not yet realized the full 1
import Of the renewed agitation Of mat
tiers intimately identified with the near
Eastern question. When we consider .
the apparent imminence of rebellion In /
which, should the outbreak
occur soon, would be nearly certain TO
draw Bulgaria into the struggle, and
doubtless with the tacit assent of Rus
sia. and the new activity Of France in
the Levant, it is difficult to avoid the
suspicion that another movement for
the partition of Turkey Is on the point
1f beginning. Where it would end. if
It did begin, is another affair. For
year or more we have thought that it
would be strange il Russia and France
lid not take advantage Of the preoccu-
cation Of England to secure foothoId
Il European Turkey and Asia Minor (
Russia looks upon the locked up Darda- {
lelles. her natural outlet to the west {
With hungry and angry eyes. France
s eaten with jealousy of England, be-
ause Of the latter's firm occupation of !
Egypt. The opportunity for both may
ave come. England is powerless The !
My prime factor as to which there is /
QUOT is Germany: but the Kaiser pos c
Ibiy may have been placated with i
romises Of compensation somewhere. |
Is critical situation; much more so 2
han the casual observer might imagine. a