The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-06
THE FRANCO-TURKIsH CONTRO-
yERSY.

european dispatches TSBdIOluS lilS
French-Turkish controversy are probably
more or less conjectural. but they indicate
the possibility of serious complications.
This much is clear from the statement of
the French minister OF foreign affairs in
the Chamber of Deputies, namely. that the
patience of France is exhausted by the
broken promises of the Porte and that she
is determined the present naval expedition
shall result in a settlement Of the claims.
THE government" he said, wishes to
show that France, after exemplary pa
thence, has other things to oppose TO the
long and persistent refusals to do justice
than simple observations" This Is plain
and strong talk to come from the foreign
minister of one government concerning an
other. The dispatches state that after care
full consideration of the case in all its bear
ings it has been decided that the French
fleet shall occupy two small ports on the
island of Antylene, which is convenient to
the large and important port of Smyrna. If
| the occupation of these ports does not
| bring the Sultan to definite action, then the
custom house at Smyrna will be seized.
/ h4S NOulu DIlI6 lAlii6S ~ q ACclN NNls
quickly. Smyrna is the most important sea-
! port on the Levant and the chief CONNER
cial emporium of West Asia. 1t has large
| trade and the duties collected there are an
| important factor in the Turkish revenues.
! The seizure of the customhouse by France
would soon enable her to make her claims
| good.
still more interesting aspect of the case
is presented by dispatch from CONSTANT
nople which says the Turkish government
| has asked Great Britain to fulfill the
terms Of the convention of 1878, whereby, in
| exchange for the island of Cyprus, Great
Britain guaranteed the integrity of the
| Sultans Asiatic possessions The dispatch
adds: ''The Porte claims under this con-
vention that Great Britain should protect
Asiatic Turkey against attack by France.
! and suggests that Great Britain should
send squadron to the Levant for that pur-
pose" This seems improbable. but it is not
| impossible. The treaty of Berlin was
formed in 1878 by representatives of Russia.
| Turkey, Germany. Great Britain. France.
Austria and Italy. Its main object was to
| place the luIkISn empire III pOSlllOu OI
independence and to protect the peace of
Europe. 1t was signed by all the powers
July Is. 1878, but about the same time a
secret treaty was entered into between
England and Turkey by which the latter
agreed to carry out certain reforms in
Asia Minor. and England, on her part.
guaranteed the integrity of the Sultan's
Asiatic possessions. To put England in a
position to fulfill her part of this treaty
Turkey surrendered Cyprus to England as
a naval and military station. This secret
treaty received the consent of Germany
and Russia, but aroused great indignation
in France. There is no doubt that it binds
England to guarantee the integrity of the
guarantee is construed to cover the seizure
of a Turkish customhouse England might
feel bound to protest against the alleged
action of France at Smyrna. AS a general
rule the seizure of a customhouse for the
enforcement of a claim or the collection OF
a debt is not regarded as an invasion of a
country with a view of establishing a per-
manent foothold, but the Sultan is a shrew1
diplomatist and he may be prepared to
meet Frances bluff with another tina;
would lead to surprising results. If he could
bring on a war between France and Eng
land he would probably become a disinter-
ested spectator of the conflict and felicitate
himself that payment of his debt to France
| was indefinitely DostDoned