Evening star., 1901-11-05
FRENCH TAKE PORTS
Admiral Caillard Occupies Three On
Island of Mitylene.
ORDER TO SEIZE SMYRNA CHANGED
Turkeys Disposition to Make
Concessions Was the Cause.
HOPES FOR A SETTLEMENT


PARIS. November 5-An official disratch
announces the arrival Of Admiral Caillard's
squadron this morning at the Island OF
Mitylene.
Admiral Caillard has occupied the three
principal ports of the Island Of Mitylene.
Admiral Cailiard's squadron arrived on
the Island or syria (Grecian Archipelago
yesterday and detached dispatch boat.
which entered the port of Syra and re-
ceived from the telegraph station a batch
of dispatches containing definite instruc-
tions from the French government regard
ing carrying out the scaled orders which
were handed TO the admiral previous TO his
leaving Toulon. These dispatches directed
Admiral Caillard to proceed TO the Island
of Mitylene. where he Will seize the GUS
toms at Midilli and at another port
The foreign office here has not yet re-
ceived the sultan's reply to the note pre-
sented by NJ. Bapst councillor of the
French legation at Constantinople. follow
ing out the instructions of NJ. Delcasse, the
foreign minister, under date of November 3.
The Situation as IL Is
The correspondent here of the Associated
Press is enabled to make the following
statement: When the French government
decided to send a squadron to Turkish
waters, 1t debated whether to seize the Gus
toms at Salonica, Beirut or Smyrna. as it
was realized that the receipts OF one OF
these three big ports would be required to
produce sufficient sum to pay of the
French claims without a long occupation,
which was considered inadvisable. The oc-
cupatfon of Salonica was at once dismiss
ed, because ii might create the false i'm
preston that France was aiming to reopen
the Macedonian question. The occupation
OF Beirut was also set aside, owing to the
French position and interests in Syria,
wnere the population looks upon France as
its protector. The occupation of Beirut,
therefore, was certain to create efferves-
cence, and perhaps even rebellion.
The choice of NJ. Delcasse consequently
feIl on Smyrna, which offers equal ad-
Yantages to the other ports without having
their political drawbacks. Saturday how
ever, came the dispatch from NJ. Bapst an
nouncing the issuing of the sultan's trade
accepting the Lorando claim inits entirety,
as France demanded. This dispatch slightly
modified the aspect of the situation, mas
much as NJ. Delcasse came to the conclusion
that the sultan would new settle the money
claims and would within few days pro-
duce the guarantees which France de-
manded for their payment.
Change I'm Conditions.
The necessity for seizing big customs
therefore became less pressing, although
the necessity for occupying Turkish terri
tory, I'm order to exercise pressure and COM
pei the sultan to concede the demands re-
spectng Turkeys disregard Of French
treaty rights, still remained urgent The
government therefore decided that Admiral
Caillard should occupy couple of ports on
the Island of Mitylene, which is conven-
iently close to Smyrna. So, should the gov
ernment's impression that the sultan will
satisfactorily settle the monetary questions
without delay prove uniustified, and the
customs receipts at Mitylene not suffice to
meet the French claims, Smyrna can yet
be occupied In the meanwhile the occupa-
ton of the ports on the Island of Mitylene
is more convenient, from n military point OF
view, as the French cannot be easily dis
turbed on that island, whereas Smyrna,
being on the mainland, its occupation might
have more serious developments than de-
sired. The French government, however.
shortly be arranged to its satisfaction. and
hopes that the treaty stipulations will be
carried out by the issue of Trades, such as
giving certain French schools permission to
open, which thus far has been withheld,
and also by giving official recognition
throughout the Turkish empire TO diplomas
issued by the French medical faculty at
Beirut, &c.
The News I'm London.
LONDON, November 5-According to q
dispatch from Paris to a news agency here.
the French squadron has arrived at Smyrna
and has seized three ports on the Island Of
Mitylene.
The British foreign office has had no re-
Constantinople correspondent of the Echo
de Paris, to fulfill the terms Of the conven-
ton of 1878 by which, in exchange for the
Island of Cyprus, Great Britain guaranteed
the integrity of the sultans Asiatic posses
sions